AG/RES. 1690 (XXIX-O/99)

THE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAS AND OAS CONFERENCE FACILITIES

(Resolution adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 8, 1999)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

BEARING IN MIND:

That the number of conferences and meetings held at the OAS or under OAS auspices has grown considerably in recent years and is likely to continue to grow;

That previous plans to modernize the buildings and conference facilities of the Organization to accommodate more conferences and meetings did not go forward due to lack of adequate financing;

That the Museum of the Americas Foundation, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Smithsonian Institution and the OAS are working together in connection with the development of a new Museum of the Americas on a suitable site within the headquarters property of the OAS;

That the proposed Museum will require conference space and other facilities which are compatible with and complement the OAS need for similar facilities as well as for protection and preservation of the OAS collection of art, artifacts, and historic documents; and

That the development of the proposed Museum presents a unique and immediate opportunity for expanding OAS conference facilities;

HAVING SEEN:

Permanent Council document CP/doc.3110/98, which details the inadequacy of current OAS conference facilities and outlines plans to modernize and upgrade them; and

Permanent Council document CP/doc.3148/98 which further details the inadequacies of current OAS buildings and facilities and the need to address their refurbishment,

RESOLVES:

1. To endorse the efforts of the sponsors of the proposed Museum of the Americas to develop the Museum project within the headquarters property of the OAS.

2. To authorize the Secretary General to cooperate with the corresponding entities to establish a new Museum of the Americas and proceed with planning, preparation, and any necessary legal arrangements, including agreements, terms and conditions with regard to use of OAS properties for such purposes, and the inclusion in such plans of adequate exhibit space for OAS use, as well as enlarged conference facilities for the OAS and, as appropriate, for joint use by the OAS and the new museum, subject to final approval of such plans and arrangements by the Permanent Council.

3. To authorize the Permanent Council, upon a request by a member state and with the prior recommendation of the Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs, to consider and take a decision as an exception to Article 66 of the General Standards to Govern the Operations of the General Secretariat on the application of some or all of that member state’s payment of quota arrears for a specific project or activity if it is in keeping with the priorities of strengthening and modernizing the Organization.

4. To authorize the Secretary General to enter into agreements with member states to receive contributions on a voluntary basis for the purposes of developing improved OAS conference facilities and refurbishing other existing OAS headquarters properties, and to establish a capital fund for building improvements for these purposes.

5. To instruct the Permanent Council through its Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs to seek other ways to augment funds for building improvements and to facilitate the construction of the new OAS conference facilities in conjunction with the building of the new Museum of the Americas.

6. To instruct the General Secretariat to examine the scheduled fees charged for use of OAS facilities as a means to augment funds to finance improvements to the current OAS facilities.

7. To instruct the Secretary General to report to the Permanent Council by no later than six months from the adoption of this Resolution, and at intervals not exceeding six months, on progress, including fundraising, towards building the new museum and conference facilities.