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New Permanent Representative of Mexico to the OAS Presents Credentials

The new Permanent Representative of Mexico to the Organization of American States (OAS), Emilio Rabasa Gamboa, today presented his credentials to the Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, in a ceremony in which both authorities highlighted the important commitment of Mexico to the OAS and its principles.

Ambassador Rabasa stressed the "irrevocable commitment of Mexico to the OAS, which is the symbiotic result of a nearly two hundred year path that we have traveled together since 1826," while he called on member states to face together the economic, political and social challenges facing the Hemisphere and stressed the importance of "reformulating" the priorities of the hemispheric Organization to respond more effectively to new realities.

"This requires us to place the institution in a much broader and complex context than the one that determined its operations during the Cold War period. The purposes and principles of the OAS Charter remain valid, but the challenges of the twenty-first century demand that we reflect on the scope and the means to implement them, "he said.

The representative of Mexico noted that the government of his country "is committed to the practice of a responsible and active foreign policy," and in this regard he urged moving forward "decisively in the reform of the Organization without damaging or weakening our institutional core." "Mexico, aware of the importance of complying with the expectations that come with being an actor with global responsibility, wants to increase its presence in the OAS," he said.

"By vocation and conviction of its foreign policy, historical experience and geographic location, Mexico conceives itself as a bridge builder between the four different areas of our Hemisphere, which allows it to identify with multiple regions. We are part of North America, as we are of Central and South America as well as the Caribbean; but, above all, we are and want to remain a country friendly to all OAS member countries," he concluded.

Secretary General Insulza highlighted the Mexican representative’s background and his "important academic curriculum," and said that his appointment "is a sign of the willingness of the Government of Mexico to maintain a very high level relationship with the OAS."

In welcoming the Mexican Ambassador to the House of the Americas, the leader of the hemispheric Organization asserted that "we are confident that your contribution will enable your country, one of the key members of this Organization, which has systematically and continuously cooperated with it since its foundation, to maintain and even enhance this high level," he said.

The Secretary General also referred to the nature of the institution he leads, and agreed that approaches must continue to evolve to respond effectively to new international realities.

"This is an Organization in which all the independent countries of the Americas should participate, according to what is reflected in its Charter; it is an Organization founded on equality, all members are equal, without regard to size, power or level of wealth; it is an Organization that chose democracy as a form of political and social organization, and this is a principle we work on consistently and we always seek to make compatible with the other principles that govern us, and finally, it is an Organization of sovereign states, therefore there is no room for exclusion or intervention," he explained. Within these principles, he cited recent examples that reflected how the Organization has worked "to adapt to new times and new challenges including security, inequality, and poverty," and gave as an example the reform of the Inter-American Human Rights System.

Prior to the ceremony of presentation of credentials, Ambassador Rabasa and Secretary General Insulza held a meeting to exchange views and perspectives on regional issues of high relevance.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

The B-roll of the event is available here.

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

Reference: E-265/13