The Government of the People's Republic of China, on November 16, presented two important contribution to OAS programs that support the work of the Press Department and the activities of the Organization in combating commercial sexual exploitation, and smuggling and trafficking in minors.

Communications equipment donated by the country consist of an in-kind donation of computer systems, televisions and monitors, which was also accompanied by a cash contribution to purchase Fiber Optic cables for the OAS Main Building. China also made a donation to support the Inter-American Children's Institute (IIN) "Inter-American Programme for the Prevention and Eradication of Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and Smuggling of and Trafficking in Minors." The total contribution was approximately US$45,000, which is in addition to the US$200,000 already disbursed this year through the China-OAS Cooperation Fund.

During a regular meeting of the OAS Group of Friends of Haiti on July 29, Permanent Observer countries made individual commitments to assist the OAS Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to the Republic of Haiti.

The projected cost of the first round of the Mission is expected at around US$5.3 million. Commitments from Spain, France, Finland, Switzerland and Norway will combine to support the successful execution of this Mission.

On July 6, Ambassador Renee Jones-Bos, Permanent Observer of the Netherlands to the OAS, signed an agreement on behalf of her Government with the General Secretariat to provide US$1.5 million for the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OEA). 

The Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands has been a Permanent Observer to the Organization since 1972, and is a principle donor to programs, contributing approximately US$1.2 million annually to projects including the MAPP, the Inter-American Children's Institute, OAS Electoral Observation Missions, sustainable development and gender equity, among others. The Netherlands is also an active donor to OAS programs at the Embassy-level in its Member States.

The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan announced its intent to provide a contribution of US$25,000 on June 3, 2010. The contribution received by Azerbaijan will be allocated to support the OAS Peace Fund, the Inter-American Children's Institute and the Americas Magazine.

Azerbaijan has been a Permanent Observer to the OAS since 2003. This is their first financial contribution to the Organization.

On May 25, the Government of Ireland pledged a contribution of €100,000 to the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OEA). Specifically, Ireland's contribution will provide financing to the "Project to Support Victims in the Sustainability and Knowledge of their Judicial Rights" component of the MAPP/OEA.

Since it's inception in 2004, the MAPP has contributed to the verification of the peace process in Colombia; supported peaceful initiatives of government, civil society and other organizations and institutions; verified the release and demobilization of firearms by illegal armed groups; supported local initiatives in conflict zones through confidence-building, reconciliation and anti-violence programs, among others. The Government of Ireland has previously provided contributions to the various components of the MAPP program, as well as to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

On May 26, the Government of the People's Republic of China made a contribution to the OAS of US$140,000 to support several priority projects of the OAS for 2010-2011. Specifically, the funds received will be used to advance the initiatives of the OAS Peace Fund of the Secretariat for Political Affairs; the Secretariat for Integral Development's "Central America Small Valleys Flood Alert and Vulnerability Reduction Program (SVP): Region Platform Development;" supporting the Inter-American Commission on Women's efforts to curb violence against women; capacity-building and social protection strategies of the Secretariat for Integral Development; and also outreach programs of the Department of International Affairs.

This contribution is financed through the OAS-China Cooperation fund, which allocates $1 million over five years to OAS projects and programs.

On May 17th, the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States and Israel’s National Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding at 11:30AM in the Gallery of Heroes at OAS Headquarters (17th and Constitution, NW). The objective of this MOU is to further formalize and create an institution-wide partnership on cooperation between the OAS and the Government of Israel for human development and capacity-building programs in Israel and OAS Member States. The partnership will extend to priority areas established by both sides including, integral development in areas such as early education, professional development, environment, economic and social development, employment and poverty reduction; gender equity including empowerment of women, gender mainstreaming and employment and entrepreneurship; disaster mitigation, disaster relief, sustainable agriculture, and management of natural resources; and, security in areas such as border control (airport, maritime and travel and document security), critical infrastructure protection, combating terrorism and its financing, crisis management and civil emergency planning. Secretary Insulza contended that through agreements like this, OAS Permanent Observer countries are demonstrating their continued dedication to our hemispheric objectives.

On April 20, the OAS received a contribution of US$279,680 from the Government of the Netherlands to support the efforts of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Colombia. The contribution was part of an agreement signed between the Netherlands Minister for Development Cooperation and the General Secretariat of the OAS on March 15, 2010.

The OAS General Secretariat signed an agreement with the Government of the United Kingdom on March 24, 2010 for a US$131,175 contribution to the Secretariat for Political Affairs / Department of Democratic Sustainability and Special Missions' Sub-fund of the OAS Peace Fund. In particular, these funds will be used to pay for fees related to the arbitration of the Belize/Guatemala border dispute before the International Court of Justice.

The United Kingdom has consistently supported the peaceful resolution to the Belize/Guatemala border conflict. The United Kingdom also supports OAS Electoral Observation Missions, the OAS Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, and other smaller programs of demining, sustainable development, democracy promotion and security.

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Spanish Government today signed the Annual Operating Plan for the Organization’s Spain Fund, an amount of 4 million Euros (approximately 5.5 million dollars) to support projects and activities of the OAS General Secretariat in the areas of promoting democracy, integral development and the strengthening of institutional and human resources capabilities.

The Plan was signed in Washington, DC, by the Ambassador of Spain’s Permanent Observer Mission to the OAS, Javier Sancho Velázquez, and the OAS Secretary General’s Chief of Staff, Ricardo Domínguez. This is the fourth time in as many years that Spain and the OAS sign an Annual Operating Plan, introducing today as one of its key features a new initiative to evaluate the implementation of projects.

The Spain Fund is supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID, in Spanish) of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and represents part of the 9 million Euros (approximately 13 million dollars) in Spain’s total annual contributions to the OAS. Programming for the Fund is carried out jointly by Spain and the OAS.

“This Fund does not exhaust our political relationship or our financial support to the OAS, but the most significant part is that it structures a strategic partnership. To have a well organized fund owned jointly by Spain and the OAS is the best depiction of our relationship, a very good reflection of what we do together,” said Ambassador Sancho, who called the introduction of the evaluation initiative a sign that the Spain Fund at the OAS “is absolutely up to date with respect to modern technologies of cooperation.”

The Chief of Staff of the OAS Secretary General for his part remarked that “to the OAS the Fund also was a landmark, because it allowed us to begin to think about the funds of donor countries in a different way. This fund proved that it was possible to work in an organized and centralized way on setting priorities without thereby generating unnecessary bureaucracies.” He added: “The fund allows us to organize priorities and keep a competitive spirit in our projects. In the name of the Secretary General I want to say that the Organization is very proud of its relationship with Spain, and we hope that in the future we can multiply this model with others.”

The General Secretariat received a contribution totaling US$269,898 from the Government of Norway on February 18 to support the 2009-2010 OAS Mine Action Portfolio of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security / Department of Public Security's Office of Humanitarian Mine Action.

The funds received will aid two main components of the project period December 2009 - November 2010: support for mine risk education, and residual mine and UXO clearance capacity in Nicaragua after the completion of the National Demining Plan; and, support to continue demining efforts in the Ecuador-Peru border region.

Norway has been a Permanent Observer since 1991, and is an active supporter of OAS programs in democracy promotion, human rights, and demining.