E-197/01
September 27, 2001

 

COSTA RICAN AMBASSADOR LAUDED FOR CHAIRING
OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL

 

            The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Wednesday commended Costa Rican Ambassador Hernán R. Castro for his role as chair of the Organization's second highest decision-making body during a period marked by tragic events.  

After presiding over his last session as Permanent Council chairman, Ambassador Castro said he was honored to have steered the work of "this decision-making body through an important period in the history of our Hemisphere." 

            He cited the mandate to adopt an Inter-American Democratic Charter as "our first challenge," and commended Colombia's Ambassador Humberto de la Calle for chairing the working group that prepared the charter. 

            The Costa Rican diplomat noted that "the adoption of the Democracy Charter in Lima saw a very painful moment too, accompanied by an outpouring of solidarity to the government and people of the United States as we learned, while in Lima, of the criminal attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania that fateful morning of September 11." 

            Following the attacks, the OAS Permanent Council convened two consultation meetings of foreign ministers—one invoking the OAS Charter, with Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Roberto Rojas presiding;   the other, convened under the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty), chaired by Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Lafer.   The Costa Rican envoy explained that these meetings sought "to come up with an immediate and appropriate response to the crisis that stemmed from the abominable deeds." 

            Over the last three months, the Permanent Council chair continued to assist Haiti in strengthening its democratic institutions, engaging both the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General in "a constructive and active role."  Highlights of Ambassador Castro's chairmanship of the hemispheric Council included the visits by Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo and Mexican President Vicente Fox, as well as by the Venezuelan Foreign Minister and the Nicaraguan Ambassador to the United Nations. 

 

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