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SPECIAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION TO ADDRESS OAS QUOTA SYSTEM

  January 26, 2006

Secretary General José Miguel Insulza on Monday will open the 31st special session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly, which is being called to consider the scale of quotas for the hemispheric body’s member states.

The OAS Permanent Council, chaired by Saint Lucia’s Ambassador Sonia Johnny, had convened the two-day special Assembly session to discuss proposals for a revised quota system. Under the terms of Article 55 of the OAS Charter, the Assembly is required to establish quota assessments taking into account the respective countries’ ability to pay “and their determination to contribute in an equitable manner.”

The delegations will also discuss the 2007 budget ceiling and other matters related to the improvement of the Organization’s financial situation.

The hemisphere’s foreign ministers decided to convene this special session at the most recent regular General Assembly session, held last June in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The open discussions of the special session will be Webcast live (www.oea.org).


WHAT: Opening of the 31st Special Session of the OAS General Assembly

WHEN: Monday, January 30

TIME: 11:30 a.m. (EST)

VENUE: Hall of the Americas
OAS Headquarters
17th St. & Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC.

Reference: AVI-001/06