OEA/Ser.P AG/RES. 1807 (XXXI-O/01) 5 June 2001 Original: Spanish FIRST MEETING OF MINISTERS AND HIGH AUTHORITIES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF CIDI (Resolution adopted at the third plenary session, held on June 5, 2001; subject to review by the Style Committee) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HAVING SEEN resolutions CIDI/RES. 90 (V-O/00), CIDI/COMCYT/RES. 9 (11-O/99), and CIDI/RES. 14 (I-E/01); TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that in the Plan of Action of the Third Summit of the Americas held in April 2001 in Quebec City, Canada, the Heads of State and Government recommended, in the area of science and technology: to promote the popularization needed in these areas "…to advance the establishment and the consolidation of a scientific culture in the region…"; to stimulate "…the development of science and technology for regional connectivity through information and communication technologies essential for building knowledge-based societies…"; to support "…the development of high-level human capital for the development of science and technology research and innovation that would encourage the strengthening of the agricultural, industrial, commercial and business sectors as well as the sustainability of the environment… ." They also recommended to promote "…with the support of existing cooperation mechanisms, the development of the regional program of science and technology indicators…" and foster "…the implementation and follow up on the scientific and technological activities mentioned above, counting on the support of hemispheric cooperation and coordination mechanisms related to this field….", CONSIDERING: That during the Second Regular Meeting of COMCYT held in Acapulco, Mexico in October 1999, there was a recommendation to convene a Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities on Science and Technology within the framework of CIDI in 2001; That the Fifth Regular Meeting of CIDI recommended that the General Assembly approve in the program-budget for 2001 the resources required to convoke, among others, the First Meeting of Ministers responsible for Science and Technology within the framework of CIDI; That during the Third Regular Meeting of COMCYT held in Washington, D.C. in October 2000, the Committee agreed to recommend that the Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology be carried out after the Quebec City Summit in April 2001, for the purpose of taking into consideration the mandates of the Summit in the area of science and technology and establishing priorities and high impact projects for the population of the Americas; That the Government of Panama offered to host the First Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities on Science and Technology within the framework of CIDI; That due to the postponement of the First Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities on Science and Technology within the framework of CIDI until 2002, a ministerial meeting and a COMCYT meeting may be held this year, RESOLVES: 1. To take note that CIDI has convened the First Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities on Science and Technology within the Framework of CIDI, to be held in Panama, on January 17-19, 2002. 2. To urge member states to participate in the Ministerial meeting at the highest possible level. 3. To instruct the General Secretariat, through the Office of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI), to provide the necessary technical and secretariat support to the meeting. 4. To instruct the General Secretariat to support the Government of Panama in the promotion of the meeting among multilateral cooperation agencies. 5. To thank the Government of Panama for its offer to host the meeting and for its good will in postponing the meeting from the end of 2001 to the beginning of 2002. 6. To recommend to the member states to promote, with the support of the Office of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD), the preparation of multilateral projects related to the Summits mandates. 7. To request CIDI to report on the implementation of this resolution to the General Assembly at its thirty-second regular session.