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Background

OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY DELIBERATIONS BEGIN WITH INITIATIVES
TO STRENGTHEN TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic—The foreign ministers of the Americas, who are meeting here for the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), agreed that new technologies should be accessible to everyone as a necessary starting point for social and economic development in the region. They also underscored the efforts of OAS José Miguel Insulza for his leadership in managing the central themes of the hemispheric agenda.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Carlos Morales Troncoso, was elected this morning by acclamation to lead the deliberations during this thirty-sixth regular session of the General Assembly, which was formally inaugurated yesterday by Insulza and Dominican President Leonel Fernández.

In his opening speech, Morales Troncoso said the surest way to advance in education, and in universal access to information and knowledge, is to make a political commitment to stimulate the development of human potential. “We have to use information and communication technologies, which are tools that will help us become a knowledge-based society,” he said.

During the plenary session, the member states approved resolutions congratulating the government and people of Peru for yesterday’s presidential elections, and thanking the government of Panama for offering to host the next regular session of the annual General Assembly.

Addressing the theme of this year’s gathering—“Good Governance and Development in the Knowledge-based Society”—the 18 heads of delegation who spoke during the first session talked about the urgency of ensuring that the citizens of the Americas, in particular the most vulnerable sectors, can participate in the benefits of the information age.

The ministers underscored the need to bridge the socioeconomic divides in Latin America, which marginalize large segments of the population and impede their access to modern technology, generating social inequalities and frustration. Through the use of new technologies, it was suggested, countries can strengthen social protections by creating higher-quality jobs, diversifying their economies and promoting the creativity of their people.

On the subject of international cooperation, several heads of delegation emphasized the importance of directing assistance to the weakest economies and noted that when a society, for lack of resources, limits opportunities for its citizens, it limits its own potential.

In their remarks, the foreign ministers also praised Secretary General Insulza’s leadership, noting that he had brought greater energy and capacity for action to the OAS. They said his presence had been particularly important in strengthening democracy and promoting regional development.

This morning’s session included remarks by the heads of delegation of Canada, Chile, Brazil, United States, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Argentina, Guatemala, Guyana, Barbados, Suriname and Belize.

In his presentation during the first plenary session, Peruvian Foreign Minister Oscar Maúrtua thanked the OAS for its support in sending an Electoral Observation Mission to monitor the election process that ended yesterday with the victory of Alan García. He also referred to differences that have divided Peru and Venezuela in recent months.

During the second plenary session this afternoon, the General Assembly was to hear from El Salvador, Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, Honduras, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Colombia, Antigua and Barbuda, Paraguay and Dominica.

Reference: E-006AG36