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(E-089/01)
April 18, 2001 

 

PERU SUBMITS DEMOCRATIC CHARTER PROPOSAL FOR
OAS GENERAL ASEMBLY DIALOGUE OF MINISTERS

 

A "Draft Inter-American Democratic Charter" has been proposed by Peru, for inclusion on the agenda for the Dialogue of Foreign Ministers during the Organization of American States General Assembly session in San José, Costa Rica, next June 3 to 5.

Submitting the proposal to the Preparatory Committee of the General Assembly, Peru's Ambassador to the OAS, Manuel Rodríguez, described his government's initiative as "a shared aspiration" that will be before the heads of state and government for consideration and approval at the III Summit of the Americas opening in Quebec City, Canada, April 20.

The aim of the proposed Democratic Charter is "to actively shore up mechanisms to defend and preserve democracy in our region," explained Ambassador Rodríguez. He noted too that the heads of state themselves will be asked to approve a mandate for the foreign ministers to make the necessary arrangements to adopt the Charter in question.

Ambassador Rodríguez said his government would soon begin consultations with all the OAS member states, furnishing them with the proposed Democratic Charter along with an explanatory note, for the foreign ministers to consult extensively before their gathering at the General Assembly.

A number of member state delegations welcomed the Peruvian proposal, which the Preparatory Committee of the General Assembly subsequently approved. Colombia's Ambassador to the OAS Humberto de la Calle chaired the meeting.

 

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