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SPECIAL SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS TO TAKE PLACE IN MEXICO

  January 6, 2004

The presidents and prime ministers of 34 democratic countries will meet in Monterrey, Mexico, on January 12 and 13 for the < ahref=http://www.summit-americas.org/SpecialSummit/mainpage-eng.htm>Special Summit of the Americas. They will evaluate progress made since the 2001 Summit of the Americas and examine steps the countries can take to achieve economic growth with equity, promote social development and strengthen democratic governance.

“In the last decade, the Summits of the Americas process has played a central role in defining hemispheric priorities and transforming the agenda of the Organization of American States,” said Irene Klinger, Executive Secretary of the OAS Summits of the Americas Secretariat. “The meeting in Monterrey will provide an opportunity for the region’s leaders to renew their shared vision of how to meet the ambitious goals they have established for the Americas.”

Klinger noted that 14 of the hemisphere’s heads of state and government have taken office since the Third Summit of the Americas, held in April 2001 in Quebec City, Canada. “The Fourth Summit of the Americas is scheduled to take place in Argentina in 2005, but the OAS member states considered that it would be advisable to hold a Special Summit to incorporate new leaders into the process and to address some of the most urgent issues the region is facing today,” Klinger said.

Representatives of the 34 countries will meet in Monterrey beginning January 8 to resume negotiations on a draft political declaration to be issued by the heads of state and government. On January 11, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, the private sector and other members of civil society will meet with foreign ministers from the region to present proposals related to the Summit topics.

Reference: E-002/04