Confidence and
security-building measures
Declaration of San Salvador
SAN SALVADOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON
CONFIDENCE- AND-SECURITY-BUILDING MEASURES
IN FOLLOW-UP
TO THE SANTIAGO CONFERENCE
February 25-27, 1998
San Salvador, El Salvador |
OEA/Ser.K/XXIX.2
COSEGRE.II/doc.7/98 rev. 3
7 April 1998
Original: Spanish |
DECLARATION OF
SAN SALVADOR ON CONFIDENCE- AND SECURITY-BUILDING MEASURES
(Adopted at the fifth plenary session, held
February 28, 1998)
The member states of the
Organization of American States, meeting at the San Salvador
Regional Conference on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures in
follow-up to the Santiago Conference:
Reaffirm that the 1995
Declaration of Santiago on Confidence- and Security-Building
Measures and the measures set forth therein remain fully in effect /
and, encouraged by the consolidation of democracy in the region and
by efforts promoting international disarmament, peace, and security,
express their willingness to continue strengthening confidence and
security in the Hemisphere.
Recognize that mutual confidence
has been strengthened through inter-American cooperation to face
common problems affecting the security of states.
Reaffirm that respect for
international law, faithful compliance with treaties, the peaceful
settlement of disputes, respect for the sovereignty of states and
for the principle of nonintervention, and the prohibition of the use
or threat of the use of force, in accordance with the terms of the
Charters of the Organization of American States and the United
Nations, are the basis for peaceful coexistence and security in the
Hemisphere, and constitute the framework for the development of
confidence- and security-building measures. They also affirm that an
essential condition for achieving an effective international
security system is that all states submit to universal, equal, and
binding rules.
Reaffirm also that consolidating
democratic processes strengthens coexistence among states and
security in the Hemisphere.
Acknowledge the significant
progress made in identifying and applying confidence- and
security-building measures since the adoption of the Declaration of
Santiago, which has helped to reduce factors that generate distrust
and contributed to the promotion of transparency and mutual
confidence, in keeping with the purposes and principles of the
Charter of the Organization of American States, respect for
international law, and the promotion of friendly and cooperative
relations among the states in the region.
Acknowledge further that the
progress made in economic integration processes in the Hemisphere
builds confidence and security, and recognize the importance of
having all member states participate in and benefit from these
processes.
Note with satisfaction the
achievement of the first inhabited nuclear-weapon-free area of the
world three decades after the pioneering effort enshrined in the
Treaty of Tlatelolco.
Consider that the climate of
hemispheric security has been further strengthened by the General
Assembly decision to reaffirm the goals of the global elimination of
antipersonnel land mines and the conversion of the Western
Hemisphere into an antipersonnel-land-mine-free zone; by the
adoption of the amended Protocol II to the Convention on
Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional
Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have
Indiscriminate Effects; and by the signing of the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of
Anti-Personnel Land Mines and on their Destruction, the signature
and ratification of which, by all the member states, as soon as
possible, they consider advisable. They further recognize the
contribution to hemispheric security made by various bans,
moratoria, and other restrictions on antipersonnel land mines
already declared by states. They take note of efforts to address the
antipersonnel land mine issue in other fora, including the United
Nations, regional organizations and groupings, and the Conference on
Disarmament.
Consider also that hemispheric
security is further enhanced through two significant international
actions: the signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
and the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the
Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and
on Their Destruction. Additionally, the prompt and successful
conclusion of current negotiations on a protocol to the Convention
on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of
Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxic Weapons and on Their
Destruction will also enhance hemispheric security.
Recall the OAS objective of
concluding mine-clearing in Central America by the year 2000, and
highlight the important achievements of the Mine-Clearing Assistance
Program in that region, with the participation and support of a
growing number of member states, permanent observers, and other
states, as well as the technical assistance rendered by the
Inter-American Defense Board.
Recognize that the prompt
ratification and entry into force of the Inter-American Convention
against the Illicit Production of and Trafficking in Firearms,
Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials will contribute
to further strengthening confidence, security, and cooperation among
states to combat this serious problem.
Underscore the importance of the
coming into force of the Framework Treaty on Democratic Security in
Central America, based on its own model of security, which is a
concrete and significant step forward for the subregion, and that
the Committee on Security, established in that Treaty, is developing
an annual program on confidence- and security-building measures to
strengthen the rule of law and the democratic system.
Note with satisfaction the
Declaration of the Presidents of Central America and the Dominican
Republic and the Representative of the Prime Minister of Belize on
the Non Participation in the Acquisition of Strategic
High-Technology and High-Cost Weapons of Mass Destruction, which
reflects the commitments made with respect to this issue and the
decision by these states to dedicate their resources "to economic
and social progress for increasing sustainable human development,"
and which emphasizes the importance of "agreeing on and implementing
a consultative process at the hemispheric level on the limitation
and control of arms."
Note with satisfaction the
initiation of consultations in the Hemisphere, in follow-up to the
Declaration of Santiago, on the limitation and control of
conventional weapons, and in particular the work and reflections of
the Rio Group on this issue.
Underscore the important progress
achieved since the Declaration of Santiago by the Southern Cone
countries in fostering mutual confidence and security, by setting up
various permanent bilateral mechanisms for consultation and
coordination on security matters and defense policies among
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay, as well as
conducting joint military exercises between Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Note with satisfaction the
results of the Second Meeting of Ministers of Defense of the
Americas, held in 1996 in Bariloche, Argentina, which contributed to
confidence and to the exchange of viewpoints on defense and security
issues.
Note the importance of
inter-American conferences and meetings of Joint Chiefs of Staff and
Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff to strengthen cooperation and implement
any military confidence- and security-building measures adopted by
the member states.
Recognize that the concept of
security for the small island states of the Hemisphere is
multidimensional in scope, involving state and nonstate actors, and
includes political, economic, social, and natural components. The
small island states have concluded that among the threats to their
security are illegal drug trafficking, the illegal trade in arms,
increasing levels of crime and corruption, environmental and
economic vulnerability, particularly in relation to trade,
susceptibility to natural disasters, transportation of nuclear
waste, and increased levels of poverty.
Note that, pursuant to the
decision of the OAS General Assembly regarding the Declaration of
Santiago, the Committee on Hemispheric Security has received reports
from governments as contributions to the preparation of a complete
and systematic list of confidence- and security-building measures.
This allows for the dissemination, follow-up, and periodic
evaluation of its implementation. In this context, they reiterate
the importance of the annual submission by member states of
information on the measures referred to in resolutions AG/RES. 1409
(XXVI-O/96) and AG/RES. 1494 (XXVII-O/97).
Emphasize, in this regard, the
work carried out by the OAS Committee on Hemispheric Security in
conformity with the General Assembly resolutions on the Declaration
of Santiago.
Recognize that the growing
application of confidence- and security-building measures is an
expression of the political will of the states to strengthen peace
and security in the Hemisphere. Their implementation, in conformity
with the geographic, political, social, cultural, and economic
conditions of each country or region and with the needs of each
state, in the most appropriate manner, contributes to increasing
security in the Hemisphere.
Emphasize that the application of
confidence- and security-building measures, through practical and
useful actions, will facilitate more far-reaching cooperation
processes in the future in areas such as arms control and
hemispheric security.
Convinced of the importance of
the confidence- and security-building process, and of the
implementation of measures such as those identified in the
Declaration of Santiago, for the consolidation of a region inspired
by democratic values and sustained by a culture of peace, agree to
recommend the application, in the most appropriate manner, of
additional measures including the following:
a. Encourage contact and
cooperation among legislators on confidence-building measures and on
matters of peace and hemispheric security, including conferences,
the exchange of visits, and a meeting of parliamentarians, in order
to strengthen this process.
b. Extend to diplomatic training
institutes, military academies, research centers, and universities
the seminars, courses, and studies envisioned in the Declarations of
Santiago and San Salvador on confidence- and security-building
measures, disarmament, and other issues related to peace and
hemispheric security, with participation in those activities by
government, civilian, and military officials and by civil society.
c. Identify and carry out
activities promoting cooperation among neighboring countries along
their border regions.
d. Promote the exchange of
information, inter alia, through the publication of books on defense
or official documents, as appropriate, permitting greater
transparency with respect to the defense policies of each country,
and on the organization, structure, size, and composition of the
armed forces.
e. In order to promote
transparency, and with technical support from the appropriate
international economic agencies, encourage the carrying out of
studies for establishing a common methodology in order to facilitate
the comparison of military expenditures in the region, taking into
account, inter alia, the United Nations Standardized International
Reporting of Military Expenditures.
f. Develop a cooperation program
to address the concerns raised by maritime transport of nuclear and
other waste, and to cooperate and coordinate in the relevant
international fora to strengthen standards governing such transport
and its safety.
g. Continue supporting the
efforts of the small island states to address their special security
concerns, including those of an economic, financial, and
environmental nature, taking into consideration their vulnerability
and level of development.
h. Improve and broaden the
information submitted by the member states to the United Nations
Register of Conventional Arms, so as to enhance the Hemisphere's
contribution to pursuing the aims of that register, in compliance
with the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly.
i. Continue consultations and the
exchange of ideas within the Hemisphere to advance the limitation
and control of conventional weapons in the region.
Express the advisability of
strengthening mechanisms and instruments for the peaceful settlement
of disputes.
Recommend that the Committee on
Hemispheric Security hold a special meeting annually, with the
participation of experts, dedicated to the analysis and exchange of
information on the confidence- and security-building measures
identified in the Declaration of Santiago, in this Declaration, and
in the relevant mandates of the General Assembly of the OAS, with a
view to assessing progress on their implementation in the
Hemisphere.
Recommend also that the Committee
on Hemispheric Security:
a. Study the recommendations
emanating from the High-Level Meeting on the Special Security
Concerns of Small Island States, held on February 25, 1998, in order
to generate greater awareness and understanding of the special
security concerns of the small island states of the Caribbean, and
continue to implement appropriate action, as well as identify new
measures of cooperation to address these concerns.
b. Hold a meeting for which
member states would make available their experts who had served on
the group of government experts on the United Nations Register of
Conventional Arms, in order that those experts provide information
about the results of the group's work, and convene a meeting for an
exchange of views in order to increase participation in the
register.
c. Seek, in its deliberations, to
advance the development of the most appropriate approach at the
hemispheric level with a view to strengthening dialogue to manage
questions related to conventional weapons.
d. Seek, in its deliberations, to
advance the development of the most appropriate approach at the
hemispheric level with a view to strengthening dialogue to manage
questions related to small arms and trafficking therein.
e. Conclude the preparation of,
and begin to implement, the education program for peace in the
Hemisphere agreed on by the General Assembly of the OAS.
f. Promote the exchange of
experiences among the member states as well as with relevant
regional and nonregional organizations and institutions, in order to
strengthen international peace and security.
Recommend to the Organization of
American States that it take the initial steps to facilitate the
meeting of parliamentarians referred to earlier in this Declaration.
Recommend that the General
Secretariat annually update the OAS Register of Experts on
confidence- and security-building measures appointed by the member
states.
Recommend that the General
Assembly consider, when appropriate, the holding, by way of
follow-up, of another regional conference on confidence- and
security-building measures, as well as another high-level meeting on
the special security concerns of small island states.
Recall that this conference is
being held in follow-up to the Regional Conference on Confidence-
and Security-Building Measures (Santiago, Chile, November 1995)
mandated by the Summit of the Americas (Miami, December 1994). In
that regard, they express their conviction that the Summit of the
Americas to be held in Santiago, Chile, this April is an important
opportunity to consolidate achievements in hemispheric confidence
and security. They also expect it to be an opportunity to consider
guidelines according to which the OAS, through its relevant bodies,
would study possible means of revitalizing and strengthening the
institutions of the inter-American system related to the various
aspects of hemispheric security, with a view to meeting the
challenges of the coming century.
The member states express their
special appreciation to the Government of El Salvador for its
excellent work in preparing for and conducting the Regional
Conference and the High-Level Meeting, as well as for the many
courtesies it extended to the participating delegations. They also
wish to thank the OAS General Secretariat for its efforts in
organizing the two meetings.
San Salvador, El Salvador
February 28, 1998
APPENDIX
CONFIDENCE- AND SECURITY-BUILDING
MEASURES /
In accordance with the foregoing,
the governments of the OAS member states, meeting in Santiago,
Chile, agree to recommend the application, in the manner that is
most suitable, of confidence- and security-building measures, among
which the following should be mentioned:
a. Gradual adoption of agreements
regarding advance notice of military exercises;
b. Exchange of information and
participation of all member states in the United Nations Register of
Conventional Arms and the Standardized International Reporting of
Military Expenditures;
c. Promotion of the development
and exchange of information concerning defense policies and
doctrines;
d. Consideration of a
consultation process with a view to proceeding towards limitation
and control of conventional weapons;
e. Agreements on invitation of
observers to military exercises, visits to military installations,
arrangements for observing routine operations and exchange of
civilian and military personnel for regular and advanced training;
f. Meetings and activities to
prevent incidents and increase security for transport by land, sea,
and air;
g. Cooperation programs in the
event of natural disasters or to prevent such disasters, based on
the request and authorization of the affected states;
h. Development and establishment
of communications among civilian or military authorities of
neighboring countries in accordance with their border situation;
i. Holding of seminars and
courses, and studies on mutual confidence- and security-building
measures and policies to promote confidence involving the
participation of civilians and military personnel, and on the
special security concerns of small island states;
j. A High-level meetings on the
special security concerns of small island states; and
k. Education Programs of
education for peace.
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