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OUTGOING PARAGUAY ENVOY CALLS FOR FAIR HEMISPHERIC FREE TRADE

Ambassador Luis Enrique Chase Plate, wrapping up his tour as Paraguay’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), on Wednesday called on the member states to consider a hemispheric free trade system whereby “the same rules apply to all countries.”

Replying to an outpouring of praise by member state diplomats in the Permanent Council, Ambassador Chase Plate suggested that “our countries should seek a more effective integration via supra-national communities, without fearing they will have to relinquish powers the states traditionally hold.” He argued that “integrating our states would help our nations overcome stagnation.”

He warned about growing extreme poverty and democratic governance problems, calling them “the main obstacles to development” for most of the peoples and states of the Americas. “We managed to defeat authoritarian systems and dictatorships that had plagued certain parts of the hemisphere, but unfortunately have not achieved the prosperity and well-being our peoples have expected.”

One of the OAS’ greatest success stories is the Inter-American Democratic Charter, he said, citing as well OAS-assisted progress in human rights protection. “Now the hemisphere’s citizens know about the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights,” said Chase Plate, thanking the OAS Secretariat and his colleagues from the member states for their collaboration.

Chairman of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Arístides Royo of Panama, said the Paraguayan diplomat has been very active since arriving at the OAS in May 2002. He went on to note how Chase Plate had distinguished himself as Chairman of the Committee on Hemispheric Security, among other things, and played an important role in the preparations for the Special Conference on Security, held in Mexico in October 2003. “Paraguay has certainly been fortunate to have you represent the country at the OAS in such a distinguished manner,” Royo told the outgoing ambassador.

OAS Acting Secretary General Luigi Einaudi, reviewing the Paraguayan Ambassador’s distinguished career and exemplary personal attributes, said Chase Plate always sought to act according to his own words.

A number of member state representatives underscored Chase Plate’s particular interest in such issues as poverty, as well as his personal commitment to justice issues. Among those that spoke were Ambassadors: Rodolfo Gil, of Argentina, on behalf of the ALADI group; Gordon Shirley, of Jamaica, representing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) group; Abigail Castro de Pérez, of El Salvador, for the Central American group; John Maisto, of the United States; and Douglas Gordon Fraser, Alternate Representative of Canada.

Reference: E-230/04