The United States delegation to the Organization of American States (OAS) told the Permanent Council today that preparations are on track for the annual OAS General Assembly, which will be held from June 5-7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Ambassador Ronald Godard, U.S. coordinator for the Assembly, briefed representatives of the 34 member countries on the logistics of the ministerial meeting, which U.S. Ambassador John Maisto said will focus on "Delivering the Benefits of Democracy." Godard also introduced an official delegation from the state of Florida which included: Mayor Kristin Jacobs of Broward County, Mayor Jim Naugle of Fort Lauderdale and Nicki Grossman, President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, will chair the three-day meeting, which brings together the foreign ministers of the Americas. This marks the first time since 1974 that the U.S. is hosting an OAS General Assembly, the Organization’s highest decision-making forum.

Among the topics the foreign ministers are expected to examine in Fort Lauderdale are: fulfilling the promise of the Inter-American Democratic Charter for all the peoples of the Americas; promoting a democratic culture; advancing in the fight against illegal drugs; improving the status of indigenous peoples; strengthening the inter-American human rights protection system; combating transnational criminal youth gangs; and making 2006 the Inter-American Year of the Fight against Corruption.

Reference: E-092/05