External affairs representatives from several Organization of American States (OAS) partner agencies gathered at the hemispheric organization’s headquarters in Washington on Wednesday, to review a number of urgent issues of common interest and chart a course for stronger collaboration.

OAS Director of International Affairs Irene Klinger hosted the luncheon that brought in representatives from the Washington, D.C. offices of the World Food Programme, United Nations Information Centre, United Nations Development Programme, World Bank, Pan American Health Organization, International Monetary Fund, International Labor Organization, International Committee of the Red Cross and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Secretary General José Miguel Insulza greeted the officials of the international organizations during their meeting that focused on the global financial crisis, the impact of high food prices, poverty reduction and inequality, the strengthening of democracy and humanitarian concerns.

On their luncheon agenda, the participants touched on issues related to development and growth, climate change, health, budgetary concerns and how to effectively engage the incoming United States administration in inter-American affairs. They also reviewed activities planned as part of preparations for the Fifth Summit of the Americas that will be held next April in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as ways to generate greater, inter-institutional cooperation.

Group participants expressed appreciation for the unique opportunity presented by the OAS invitation to meet. Among proposals to arise from the luncheon was a quarterly meeting to share information and identify opportunities for further collaboration. The World Bank representative offered to host the group early next year.

The luncheon ended with a guided tour of the exhibit at the OAS Museum of the Americas marking the 100th Birthday of the renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer.

Reference: E-406/08