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NEW UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR ARRIVES AT THE OAS; RENEWS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE HEMISPHERIC BODY

Ambassador Hector Morales, the new United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States who presented credentials Friday morning, injected renewed confidence in the hemispheric body, describing it as a key partner on his country’s four-fold policy objectives around democracy consolidation, promotion of prosperity, investment to create opportunity to redress poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean, and protecting the security of democratic states.

In presenting Secretary General José Miguel Insulza with his letters of accreditation, Ambassador Morales recalled U.S. policy in the Americas as “designed to help our partners demonstrate to their citizens that, at the end of the day, democracy engenders prosperity.”

He pledged to work multilaterally to ensure that the OAS remain true to its core principles as set forth in the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Morales said recent tensions between Colombia and Ecuador underscore the need for the OAS and that “the twin evils of terrorism and the drug trade” must be combated to protect the people of the Americas and strengthen democracy and security. “There is no higher calling for the OAS, and they are indispensable to economic and social development,” the new US Ambassador declared.

Ambassador Morales restated his country’s ongoing commitment to the Summit process, and told Secretary General Insulza and the others on hand for the ceremony: “Multilateral solutions require respectful dialogue and steady engagement.”

Saying he looks forward to Morales contribution as a great asset to the organization’s work, Secretary General Insulza outlined the evolution of the OAS as “a fully pan American organization” that comprises every independent country of the Americas. Insulza said the variety of its membership is part of what gives the OAS its strength. He also identified priority agenda issues such as democracy, human rights, security and the fight against terrorism and integral development.

The Secretary General praised the work of the U.S. Interim Representative, Ambassador Robert Manzanares, expressing appreciation as well for U.S. support for the organization’s programs.

Besides OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin and the Permanent Council’s Chairman, Ambassador Cornelius Smith of the Bahamas, several member state ambassadors and senior diplomat were on hand accompanying the new US Permanent Representative as he presented credentials.

Most recently, Ambassador Morales served as U.S. Executive Director to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He has more than 15 years of experience in U.S. commerce with the Americas, both as a businessman and as a lawyer.

Reference: E-084/08