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Press Release

“ENERGY FOR DEVELOPMENT” THE THEME FOR NEXT OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The member countries of the organization of American States (OAS) have endorsed the Panamanian government’s proposal that the next OAS General Assembly focus on energy as a basic resource to fuel development for the peoples of the Americas. The thirty-seventh regular session of the General Assembly will be held in Panama City beginning June 3.

Panama’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Aristides Royo, submitted the Draft Declaration of Panama, entitled “Energy for Development,” for consideration by the Permanent Council. He said the initiative represents his government’s effort to acknowledge countries’ concerns regarding the rapidly unfolding energy problem. “All our member states must become aware and act on this concern in a timely manner,” Royo stated.

The preliminary document, now under consideration by a working group chaired by the Panamanian diplomat, warns that high energy costs put a severe financial constraint on resources that the countries of the Americas need for their development programs.

It argues that economic development and environmental conservation are complementary and among the basic goals of the OAS. It also highlights public-private sector alliances as vital to the promotion of the energy sector agenda in the hemisphere, and touches on the effects of climate change and the need for research, promotion, development and increased use of renewable energy sources. The OAS Department of Sustainable Development is providing the working group with technical advice.

New Ambassadors

At the same meeting yesterday, chaired by Uruguayan Ambassador María del Luján Flores, two new Permanent Representatives—Bolivia’s Ambassador Reynaldo Cuadros Anaya and Peru’s Ambassador Antero Flores-Araoz—addressed the Permanent Council for the first time.

Ambassador Cuadros Anaya, a scientist specializing in sustainable development, talked about Bolivia’s new perspective and its concept of “wholesome living” based on multicultural principles and values that foster harmony. “With all the apparent contradictions and challenges of the new world order, Bolivia is proposing an alternative lifestyle in which it can live within its constraints and capabilities, so that people can at least live well and in brotherhood with the rest of the community,” Cuadros Anaya said.

Referring to the “delicate” issue of drugs, he said other countries of the region are watching to see what steps Bolivia will take in this regard. Arguing that his country has been stigmatized as a drug producer, he urged the delegations to consider the issue from a more holistic standpoint that respects the traditional uses of the coca leaf in some societies. He also touched on issues related to the free market, human rights, freedom of expression and the rights of indigenous peoples. With respect to the OAS agenda, he said Bolivia shares the same perspective as the hemispheric organization.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Flores-Araoz explained the Peruvian government’s commitment to supporting the multilateral agenda, noting that democracies are strengthened through dialogue, reflection and consensus-building. The Peruvian diplomat also outlined his government’s effort to promote human rights, fight corruption at all levels and promote social rights.

In his first address to the Permanent Council, Ambassador Flores-Araoz touched as well on Peru’s determination to step up the fight against poverty and discrimination—“zero tolerance with regard with racism of any kind”—and reiterated his government’s commitment to the principles enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter. “We want a much more aggressive, frontal attack on terrorism, subversion, drug trafficking and money laundering,” he said.

The Peruvian diplomat also referred to his government’s willingness to help draft a resolution on civil and general registry, to guarantee the right to an identity. He invited countries to support this effort, noting that Peru has made a financial contribution. Flores-Araoz said his country defends broad press freedom, “because for there to be democracy there has to be criticism and tolerance.”

Justice Studies Center of the Americas Report

In other matters considered during the Permanent Council meeting, the Executive Director of the Justice Studies Center of the Americas, Juan Enrique Vargas, gave an update on the process of judicial reform in the region over the last decade, noting that the trend has been dynamic, profound and unprecedented.

“Our legislative branches are now larger and more powerful,” he said, citing among other accomplishments greater transparency and independence in decision-making. Judicial training has also been improved, he said, and many countries have made major improvements to their criminal justice systems. He noted, however, that citizens often view their judiciaries negatively because of perceived corruption and security problems.

Vargas told the Permanent Council that the Justice Studies Center, headquartered in Santiago, Chile, has collaborated with member countries on judicial reform. But, he added, a full overhaul of justice systems calls for more than technical support alone; it also requires “political support from states, and I believe this is an area in which we need to make much more progress in order to sell the idea that judicial reform is urgently needed and that it must be sustained over time, with adequate financing, to be successful.”

Reference: E-020/07