Organization of American States

www.oas.org

(E-171/01)
August 14, 2001

Ambassador Ramón Quiñones, the new Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic, outlined to the Organization of American States today his government's first order of priority in promoting democracy while combating poverty and underdevelopment. 

            Addressing today's OAS Permanent Council meeting—for the first time as Ambassador— Quiñones called on the OAS to ensure that it does more than just respond to threats to democratic systems.   "There is an urgent need for a preventive and proactive approach," observed Quiñones, who had been Alternate Representative to the OAS for four years, urging the Organization to also increase its support to institutional systems and to give more help to shore up democracy in member countries in order to advance the material and economic well-being of their citizens. 

He noted that on August 16 the administration of President Hipólito Mejía will mark its first year in office, and referred to the government's emphasis on increasing how much its spends on the poor as well as to implement a social policy centered on poverty-reduction. 

As regards the new mandates given the hemispheric body, the Ambassador said the OAS needs more funding to take them on.   "And this will be only possible to the extent that our governments and citizens can visualize the changes needed within the Organization itself."    He also touched on the question of member state quotas, which he said need to be redefined to enable the OAS to make good on its commitments. 

            Finally, Ambassador Quiñones told his diplomatic colleagues that the Dominican Republic wants to contribute more towards resolving the situation facing the sister nation of Haiti, with which it shares the island of Hispaniola.  He restated the common past and shared challenges that unite the two neighboring OAS member states.

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