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OAS Supports the National Permanent Dialogue Commission of the Presidency of Guatemala

  May 5, 2010

The Organization of American States (OAS) has expressed its commitment to support the National Permanent Dialogue Commission of the Presidency of Guatemala, in response to a request from the Guatemalan President, Álvaro Colom, to the OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza.

The OAS Secretary for Political Affairs, Víctor Rico, announced the Organization’s commitment to accompany and provide technical assistance to the Presidential Commission in three specific areas: institutional strengthening of the National System of Permanent Dialogue (SNDP); support and facilitation in specific conflict areas; and technical assistance to the SNDP.

“The program announced by President Álvaro Colom has as its main goal to reaffirm the commitment of Secretary General José Miguel Insulza to democracy and institutional strengthening in Guatemala and all Central American countries,” Rico stated. In this regard, he highlighted “the permanent presence of the OAS in Guatemala, with programs destined to complement and support the government in the most sensitive areas,” generally tied to the most vulnerable sectors of society.

The OAS Secretary for Political Affairs today attended in Guatemala City the presentation of the project, “Program of Institutional Strengthening for Political Dialogue and Conflict Mediation,” launched by the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Guatemala and by the National Permanent Dialogue Commission to inform the international community of the government’s efforts “to confront the challenges that Guatemala is facing in matters of governance.”

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org

Reference: E-157/10