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STUDENTS FROM THE AMERICAS DEBATE ISSUES OF INTER-AMERICAN AGENDA DURING XXV MODEL OF THE OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Twenty-Fifth Model of the Organization of American States (OAS)General Assembly for Universities of the Americas opened on December 12 on the Pilar Campus of the Universidad del Salvador, in Argentina.

Organized by the OAS Department of External Relations in coordination with Argentine counterparts, including the Asociación Conciencia, Universo Agora Asociación Civil, Universidad de la Matanza and the Fundación Universitaria del Río de Plata, the meeting brings together some 200 students from 26 universities from Argentina and the rest of the hemisphere. During the Model, students will debate key issues of the inter-American agenda, such as energy for sustainable development, labor regulations of free trade agreements, regional cooperation, fight against corruption and transnational crime, cooperation mechanisms between the private and public sectors and civil society, as well as guarantees for the financial stability of the OAS.

The event’s objective is to familiarize the students with the work and duties of the OAS while they study the main problems that affect the citizens of the Americas and the role that the Organization plays in their solution. During the Model, the students who represent the OAS Member States defend the policies and interests of the country they are assigned.

Students participating in this Twenty-Fifth OAS Model come from the National University of Mar del Plata, the University of Cuenca del Plata, the National University of Lanús, the University of Salvador, the National University of Córdoba, the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, the University of Lomas de Zamora and the Buenos Aires University, all from Argentina. The Model will also have participants from the Laval University and Universite de Sherbrooke, of Canada; Uninorte, ICESI University, Javeriana University, University of la Sabana, Sergio Arboleda University, Military University Nueva Grenada and EAFIT University, of Colombia; University of Chile and Catholic University of Chile; Universidad Autónoma of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; San Martín de Porres University and Private University of Tacna, of Peru; College of Charleston, United States and the UNAM of Mexico.

On Tuesday, the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs greeted the participants with an opening ceremony at the San Martín Palace, presided by Foreign Minister Roberto García Moritán, OAS Director of External Relations, Irene Klinger, and in representation of the local counterparts, the President of the Asociacion Conciencia, Lía Rueda.

“The future of the Americas depends on the training of committed leaders, as well as on the development of networks among the youth of the Americas. This will facilitate integration, democratic coexistence, and shared valued for a prosperous, just and peaceful America,” said Klinger during her opening remarks. She also noted that “the issue of energy diversity is also a fundamental issue of the inter-American agenda.”

The session will be held thorough Friday at noon, on the Campus of the Universidad del Salvador in Pilar, Buenos Aires.

Reference: E-336/07