MEMORANDUM
SPECIAL MEETING


GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMAN.
I CALL TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES AND PERMANENT OBSERVERS TO THE OAS AND THE AMBASSADORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO THE UNITED STATES.

MANY ARE THE TIES THAT BIND THE HISTORIES OF THE NATIONS OF THE AMERICAS WITH THOSE OF AFRICA AND IT IS FITTING THAT WE SEEK TO DIALOGUE ON ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN.

ON BEHALF OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL, I AM HONORED TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME SO MANY AMBASSADORS FROM THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. WE ARE PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE ACCEPTED THIS INVITATION AND WOULD LIKE YOU TO FEEL AT HOME IN THIS HOUSE OF THE AMERICAS.

THIS MEETING WILL ADDRESS THE TOPICS OF COOPERATION FOR DEVELOPMENT, TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO AN ENRICHING DISCUSSION.

IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I NOW OFFER THE FLOOR TO AMBASSADOR LUIGI EINAUDI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES.

MR. ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
(Ambassador Einaudi makes his presentation)

THANK YOU MR. ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL.


REMARKS BY THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL
(Ambassador Antoine makes his presentation)


YOUR EXCELLENCY ROBLE OLHAYE, DEAN OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF DJIBOUTI TO THE UNITED STATES

AMBASSADOR LUIGI EINAUDI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE OAS

AMBASSADORS, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES AND PERMANENT OBSERVERS TO THE OAS

AMBASSADORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO THE UNITED STATES


I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THIS, THE FIRST MEETING OF THE OAS MEMBER STATES AND PERMANENT OBSERVERS WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO THE UNITED STATES .

IT IS A PLEASURE TO SEE AN IDEA CONCEIVED BY THE PERMANENT OBSERVERS OF AFRICA TO THE OAS AND BY ME BECOME REALITY. AND NOW WE ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO START A VERY PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE THANKS TO YOUR INTEREST AND COOPERATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL .

(TRADE)

· FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ON THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE OAS ON MATTERS RELATED TO TRADE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

AS YOU MAY KNOW, AT THE FIRST SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS, HELD IN MIAMI IN DECEMBER 1994, THE HEADS OF THE 34 OAS MEMBER STATES RESOLVED TO CREATE A FREE TRADE AREA OF THE AMERICAS (FTAA), IN WHICH BARRIERS TO TRADE AND INVESTMENT AMONG THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES WOULD BE PROGRESSIVELY ELIMINATED. THE GOAL IS TO CONCLUDE THESE NEGOTIATIONS NO LATER THAN 2005.

IN 1995, RESPONDING TO THESE REQUESTS, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE OAS CREATED THE TRADE UNIT, WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

- TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE FTAA PROCESS;
- TO STUDY THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF HEMISPHERIC TRADE RELATIONS;
- TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL AND SUB REGIONAL INTEGRATION ORGANIZATIONS
- TO STRENGTHEN THE PROVISION OF TRADE INFORMATION.

COOPERATION AND TRAINING IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF HELPING THE SMALLER ECONOMIES OF THE AMERICAS BECOME BETTER PREPARED FOR NEGOTIATIONS. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AND IN KEEPING WITH THE REQUESTS AND MANDATES FROM OUR HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT AND OUR MINISTERS, THE OAS TRADE-RELATED CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES HAVE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF OAS MEMBER COUNTRIES.

CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS AND LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT VARY SIGNIFICANTLY AMONG OAS MEMBERS, AND ACCORDINGLY, THE TRADE UNIT SEEKS TO ESTABLISH MORE REGIONAL-DRIVEN TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING FRAMEWORKS BY SUPPORTING COUNTRIES IN DRAFTING NATIONAL TRADE-RELATED CAPACITY BUILDING STRATEGIES. THIS INVOLVES SUPPORTING COUNTRIES IN DEFINING ARTICULATING AND PRIORITIZING TRADE-RELATED NEEDS IN 3 AREAS:

- PREPARING FOR NEGOTIATIONS,
- IMPLEMENTING TRADE COMMITMENTS, AND
- ADJUSTING TO INTEGRATION.

THIS APPROACH HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OF THE OAS TRADE UNIT, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE REGION FACES, SUCH AS THE LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE, IN THE CONTEXT OF:

- INTENSE TRADE NEGOTIATING PROCESSES
- IMPLEMENTATION OF EXISTING OBLIGATIONS
- NEED TO INCREASE TRADE AND INVESTMENT

THE OAS TRADE UNIT ALSO PROMOTES INTER-INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION WITH THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO), THE WORLD BANK (IBRD), THE ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD), THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT (UNCTAD), AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

LET ME HIGHLIGHT THAT THE OAS'S FOREIGN TRADE INFORMATION SYSTEM (SICE), HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED AND TRANSFORMED INTO AN INSTRUMENT OF TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION AND TRADE TRENDS, FACILITATING ACCESS TO TEXTS OF TRADE AGREEMENTS, POLICIES AND LEGISLATION IN KEY AREAS, STATISTICS, ANALYTICAL ARTICLES AND OTHER TRADE-RELATED DOCUMENTS AS WELL AS DIRECT LINKS TO THE MAIN TRADE-RELATED WEBSITES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE AMERICAS.


(INTER-AMERICAN AGENCY FOR COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT)

THE OAS INTER-AMERICAN AGENCY FOR COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (IACD) IS OUR LEAD ENTITY FOR THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES

ON A YEARLY BASIS, THE AGENCY DISBURSES APPROXIMATELY $16-17 MILLION ON DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROJECTS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. WITH THESE FUNDS, THE AGENCY SUPPORTS MULTINATIONAL AND NATIONAL INITIATIVES.

IN ADDITION TO THESE FUNDING PROGRAMS, THE AGENCY HAS DEVELOPED, WITH SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE EDUCATIONAL PORTAL OF THE AMERICAS, AN ONLINE TOOL THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A KNOWLEDGE-BASED SOCIETY BY INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUALITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING.

THE AGENCY SEEKS TO PROMOTE HORIZONTAL COOPERATION BETWEEN OAS MEMBER STATES THROUGH ITS BEST PRACTICES PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY ACTIVE IN THE SECTORS OF E-GOVERNMENT, E-PROCUREMENT AND MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT, SEEKS TO IDENTIFY SUCCESFUL PRACTICES IN THE REGION AND TO FACILITATE THEIR ADAPTATION AND POTENTIAL APPLICATION IN OTHER MEMBER STATES.

SUPPORT BY THE AGENCY FOR INITIATIVES IN THE AREA OF TRADE AND INTEGRATION RANGE FROM CAPACITY BUILDING TO INTER-AMERICAN PORT SECURITY.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE FACT THAT THE AGENCY’S BEST PRACTICES PROGRAM INCLUDES THEMES RELATED TO DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE AT THE NATIONAL OR SUB-NATIONAL LEVELS. THE E-GOVERNMENT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO CATALYZE INITIATIVES AND PROVIDE GOVERNMENTS WITH INTEGRAL SUPPORT AT EVERY STAGE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS. THE APPLICATION OF BEST PRACTICES IN E-GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH AIMED AT ACCELERATING THE PROCESS OF MODERNIZATION THROUGH THE EFFICIENT USE OF SCARCE PUBLIC RESOURCES AND AT MITIGATING POTENTIAL RISKS BY UTILIZING PROVEN SOLUTIONS.
THE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE REGION IN THEIR EFFORTS TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS. THIS PROGRAM ASSISTS OAS MEMBER STATES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REFORM AND MODERNIZE THE STATE, REDUCE CORRUPTION, STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE, AND FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION, THIS PROGRAM FACILITATES THE PARTICIPATION OF SMALL BUSINESS IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AND IN OTHER FORMS OF E-COMMERCE, IN ORDER TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT AND REDUCE POVERTY.

FINALLY, THE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO MEMBER STATES’ LOCAL GOVERNMENTS , HELPING THEM TO INCREASE MANAGERIAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES. THE FOCAL AREAS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE MODERNIZATION OF CADASTRAL SYSTEMS, E-GOVERNMENT APPLIED TO THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES.

THE CHALLENGES TO THE IACD IN BETTER MEETING THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF OAS MEMBER STATES INCLUDE:

- IMPROVED RESPONSES TO THE PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES OF OAS MEMBER STATES, TAKING PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE NEEDS OF SMALLER AND MORE VULNERABLE ECONOMIES OF THE REGION
- ENHANCED PARTICIPATION BY ALL MEMBER STATES IN THE PROGRAMMING, PROCESS, ESPECIALLY VIA SHARING OF EXPERTISE OF THEIR NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
- PUT IN PLACE MUTUALLY REINFORCING PROGRAMS AND OPERATE IN A MORE INTEGRATED MANNER
- DEVELOP HIGHER IMPACT, RESULTS-BASED MULTIYEAR, MULTI-NATIONAL PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE THE LEVERAGING OF EXTERNAL RESOURCES
- ESTABLISH MORE INTERACTIVE MECHANISMS WITH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES OF MEMBER STATES

(HUMAN RIGHTS)

· LETS MOVE NOW TO THE TOPIC OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY, CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF THE INTER-AMERICAN AGENDA.

THE INTER AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IS ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL ORGANS OF THE OAS. THE COMMISSION’S INDIVIDUAL PETITION SYSTEM IS THE CENTRAL POINT OF ITS WORK PROGRAM. THE NUMBER OF PETITIONS SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSION IN 1997 WAS 458. IN 1998, 607, AND BY SEPTEMBER 2002, SOME 4098 HAVE BEEN PRESENTED. THIS SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK DONE BY THE COMMISSION DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS, IN WHICH APPROXIMATELY 946 CASES HAVE BEEN PROCESSED. IN FACT, IN 2002, THE COMMISSION HAS 936 CASES PENDING. IN PAST YEARS THE COMMISSION HAS CONSIDERED VERY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CASES: ILLEGAL DETENTION AND ARREST, DISAPPEARANCES, EXTRA-JUDICIAL EXECUTIONS, VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHTS OF ASYLUM, OF THE RIGHT TO POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, AND OF THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY.

As PART OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR OBSERVING THE GENERAL HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE MEMBER STATES, THE COMMISSION CONDUCTS ON-SITE INVESTIGATIONS IN OAS MEMBER STATES. SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS IN 1959, IT HAS MADE 84 ON-SITE VISITS.

IN SERIOUS AND URGENT CASES, AND WHENEVER NECESSARY, ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE, THE COMMISSION MAY, ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE OR UPON REQUEST BY A PARTY, REQUEST THAT THE STATE CONCERNED ADOPT PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO PREVENT IRREPARABLE HARM TO PERSONS.

IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, 260 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WERE GRANTED BY THE COMMISSION. OF THESE, 103 ARE STILL ACTIVE. THE NUMBER OF PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES GRANTED DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS PROTECTED WHEN MEASURES ARE ADOPTED, SINCE, ON MANY OCCASIONS, SEVERAL PERSONS OR ENTIRE COMMUNITIES RECEIVE PROTECTION. WITHOUT DOUBT, PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES HAVE HELPED TO SAVE AN IMPORTANT NUMBER OF LIVES IN THE AMERICAS

OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION ARE TO SUBMIT CASES TO THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND TO REQUEST ADVISORY OPINIONS FROM THE COURT REGARDING QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS.

IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE AND APPROPRIATE REPARATIONS, THE COMMISSION HAS BROUGHT 48 CASES TO THE COURT. THE COURT’S JURISDICTION HAS BEEN MAINLY UTILIZED AS A MECHANISM FOR JUSTICE IN THE CASE OF DISAPPEARANCES, AS WELL AS ARBITRARY DETENTION, LACK OF DUE PROCESS, AND EXTRA-JUDICIAL EXECUTIONS. THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT IS COMPETENT TO MAKE BINDING DETERMINATION REGARDING STATES’ RESPONSIBILITIES.

(DEMOCRACY)

· THE LINK BETWEEN HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE STRENGTHENING OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL. THE COUNTRIES OF THE HEMISPHERE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT “REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY IS ESSENTIAL FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND DEVELOPMENT.”

THE UNIT FOR THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY HAS PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO AN ARRAY OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS FOR MORE THAN TWELVE YEARS NOW.

ACTIVITIES OF THE UNIT INCLUDE ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE AND OBSERVATION, THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND CULTURE, THE PACIFIC RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS, SUPPORT FOR DECENTRALIZATION EFFORTS AND STRENGTHENING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ASSISTANCE TO LEGISLATURES. THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE MISSION OF THE UNIT FOR THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO POLITICAL PARTIES AS A VITAL ACTOR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

AS CHAIRMAN OF THE OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL, I VIEW WITH SATISFACTION THE EVOLUTION OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES IN THE DEFENSE AND PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY OVER THE LAST TWELVE YEARS. I AM PARTICULARLY HEARTENED BY OUR EFFORTS OVER THE LAST YEAR THAT CULMINATED IN THE APPROVAL OF THE INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER.

IN THAT CHARTER ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER 2001, OAS MEMBER STATES AGREED TO “REVIEW PERIODICALLY THE ACTIONS ADOPTED AND CARRIED OUT BY THE ORGANIZATION TO PROMOTE DIALOGUE, COOPERATION FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY IN THE HEMISPHERE, AND TO TAKE THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO FURTHER THESE OBJECTIVES.” THEY FURTHER AGREED THAT THE EXERCISE OF DEMOCRACY PROMOTES THE PRESERVATION AND GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

THEY ALSO SAID THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE STATES OF THE HEMISPHERE IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND STRATEGIES TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF VARIOUS TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS, TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SIMILARLY, THE MEMBER STATES RECOGNIZE THAT EDUCATION IS KEY TO STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN POTENTIAL, ALLEVIATING POVERTY, AND FOSTERING GREATER UNDERSTANDING AMONG OUR PEOPLES.

Thank you






IT IS NOW AN HONOR FOR ME TO OFFER THE FLOOR TO THE DEAN OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES, HIS EXCELLENCY ROBLE OLHAYE, (SAY: ROBLAY O-LAH-YEA) AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF DJIBOUTI TO THE UNITED STATES.

AMBASSADOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
(Ambassador Roble Olhaye makes his presentation)

THANK YOU AMBASSADOR FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL AND INTERESTING PRESENTATION.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I NOW OFFER THE FLOOR TO DELEGATIONS AND SPECIAL GUESTS WHO WISH TO COMMENT. THE FLOOR IS OPEN.
(Remarks by Delegations and guests)


THANK YOU.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER REQUESTS FOR THE FLOOR, I WISH TO THANK THE DEAN OF THE AFRICAN DIPLOMATIC CORPS, AMBASSADOR ROBLE OLHAYE, OUR GUESTS, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES AND PERMANENT OBSERVERS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING WHICH HAS OPENED WINDOWS TO NEW VISTAS AND AREAS FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE EXCHANGES AMONG OUR NATIONS.

I TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE TWO COUNTRIES ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THEIR INDEPENCENCE DAY, BURKINA FASO TODAY, DECEMBER 11 AND THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA TOMORROW, DECEMBER 12.

THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
MEMO SPECIAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES