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SWEDEN TO CONTRIBUTE TO OAS ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION IN BOLIVIA

  June 28, 2002

The government of Sweden has announced that it will donate $ 52, 000 to the Organization of American States' (OAS) Electoral Observation Mission in Bolivia.

The agreement between the OAS and the Swedish government will be signed Tuesday by the Swedish Ambassador to Washington and Permanent Observer to the OAS, Mr. Jan Eliasson, and the Secretary General of the OAS, Mr. César Gaviria.

Sweden, an OAS permanent observer country since 1996, last year alone contributed more than $ 1.6 million to a range of OAS activities, including electoral observation missions to Peru, Honduras and Nicaragua; a program to remove land mines in Nicaragua; and support to the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the OAS/IACHR. So far this year, Sweden has contributed more than $ 600, 000 to various activities of the OAS.

Sweden has a longstanding interest in Latin America and values the role and importance of the OAS in promoting democracy and human rights in the region. Sweden has collaborated with the OAS since the 1960's and has over the last 10 years been the main contributor, among the permanent observer countries, to OAS programs aimed at strengthening peace and democracy in the region.
Among others, Sweden has supported the OAS/Propaz program in Guatemala - Culture of Dialogue: Development of Resources for Peacebuilding; as well as the Program for Strengthening Peace and Reintegration in Nicaragua.

Reference: E-128/02