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IN THE PREPARATORY MEETING OF THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS, NEGOTIATORS DEBATE ABOUT THE REGION’S PUBLIC SECURITY

During the Second Regular Meeting of 2009 of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), which is taking place in Washington DC from the 9th-13th of February, representatives of the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) met to continue with the negotiations of the Draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain, for the 5th Summit of the Americas.

During the SIRG’s inaugural session, the OASSecretary General, José Miguel Insulza, welcomed the Summits National Coordinators who will be discussing the text of the draft declaration, and referred to the importance of considering the issue of public security as the central topic in the meeting’s discussions. Insulza stated that this issue has been a central concern of his administration for numerous years, and thus he felt pleased it is included, for the first time, in a declaration of the Summit of the Americas.

The Secretary General also remarked the importance of linking the subject of public security with democratic governing, highlighting that the OAS, as a political institution, works to strengthen the region’s political stability. “That is our objective, to make our countries more governable more democratic, and more prosperous and countries that can advance towards the development and the solution of problems through the strengthening of democracy,” he concluded.

On the other hand, Ambassador Luis Alberto Rodriguez, National Coordinator of the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago and President of the SIRG, recommended to take up again the negotiations of the Draft Declaration of Commitment of the 5th Summit, taking into account that the acquired commitments should be tangible, measurable and applicable. He also reaffirmed the strategic importance of the discussed matters and reminded that the meeting in Port of Spain must consider the current challenges that confront the leaders of the hemisphere and the whole word, mainly in the economic, social and political development fields.

Simultaneously, Ambassador Rodriguez stated that the 5th Summit anticipates two important opportunities, “firstly, the Summit provides the opportunity to redefine and form new relationships among our countries and, with and among the various sub-regions of our Hemisphere, and to strengthen cooperation and integration initiatives that are mutually beneficial. Secondly, it is an opportunity to reconnect in a meaningful way, the Summits process with the people of our Hemisphere by producing a concise and focused declaration that has tangible, measurable outcomes for our fellow citizens.”

The Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) is the political body responsible for following-up on Summit mandates, coordinating the Summit agenda, and preparing for future Summits. The 5th Summit of the Americas will take place from the 17th-19th of April in the city of Port Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, which will count with the participation of the Heads of State and Government of the 34 member states of the OAS.

Reference: E-032/09