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OAS Assistant Secretary General Visited Paraguay to Observe Preparations for the General Assembly

The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin, visited Asunción, Paraguay, from April 20 to 22 in the context of the preparations for the 44th Regular Meeting of the OAS General Assembly, which will be held from June 3 to 5, 2014. During his visit, Ambassador Ramdin met with Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga, with whom he held an important exchange on the substantive issues that will be debated during the hemispheric event.

Upon the conclusion of the meeting, the senior OAS representative offered a news conference in which he thanked the President of the Republic, Horacio Cartes, for the hospitality of his country toward the member states of the Organization, in its capacity as host of the meeting of Foreign Ministers. “It is not a coincidence that your country is hosting us for a second time, as Paraguay is animated by its long-held and passionate vocation for the Americas; this is another demonstration of that and of your commitment to advocate for the unity of our Hemisphere,” said the Assistant Secretary General.

Ambassador Ramdin said “In June, Asunción will host the only annual meeting in which the Ministers of Foreign Relations of the Western Hemisphere have the opportunity to discuss issues of common concern.” He highlighted that “in the changing hemispheric and global panorama, the OAS General Assembly represents an unequalled opportunity for the member states to strengthen their collaboration, unity and solidarity, based on the fundamental principles of peace and prosperity,” and added that “on this occasion, it will also offer a space to reflect on the strategic vision for this, the oldest regional organization in the world.”

The Government of Paraguay has chosen as the central theme of the 44th OAS General Assembly “Development with Social Inclusion.” The debates and negotiations over the Declaration of Asunción are underway at the headquarters of the institution in Washington, DC.

In this respect, Ambassador Ramdin highlighted that “in his recent visit to the OAS in Washington, Foreign Minister Loizaga had the opportunity to make a presentation to the member states on the issue of the Assembly, and was able to see the unanimous, positive and encouraging reactions to such a transcendent theme as is the primordial need for our countries to work without pause and in mutual support to better the living conditions of our citizens.”

Assistant Secretary General Ramdin expressed his special gratitude to Foreign Minister Loizaga and the national coordination team for their support in the celebration of the annual OAS meeting, and for the hospitality provided. “The collaboration between your government and the OAS in the planning activities has been truly extraordinary,” he reiterated, and expressed his satisfaction and the state of preparations.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-158/14