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BELIZE PROMOTES AN ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE TO BE AMBASSADOR TO OAS

Ambassador Nestor Mendez today presented credentials as the fifth Permanent Representative of Belize to the Washington-based Organization of American States (OAS), using the occasion to accentuate his government’s assurance of unflagging support for the OAS’ role in helping member countries tackle poverty, social inequity, good governance and other major hemispheric challenges.

Mendez, who had been an Alternate Representative and was most recently Interim Representative to the OAS, told Secretary General José Miguel Insulza that OAS efforts in such areas as climate change, migration, promoting competitiveness to take advantage of newly-integrated markets, the ever-changing security challenges and the permanent guardianship over democracy and stability “are all reflective of an organization whose resolve is calibrated to deliver on what is needed.”

Ambassador Mendez also expressed his government’s “profound appreciation” for the invaluable role of the OAS and the Secretary General’s Office in the ongoing process between Belize and Guatemala “in their search for a fair, equitable and definitive resolution to the territorial differendum.”

Recalling that Belize had joined the OAS in 1991, Mendez said Belize’s delegation has witnessed and has been part of the hemispheric organization’s natural evolution into a twenty-first century multilateral organization that has, at the same time, always remained relevant to the needs of its member states. “It is clear to us that only through a visible and sustainable improvement in the standard of living of our people, bolstered by the provision of adequate education, health care, food security and the fabric of social stability, that the dividends of democracy will become real,” Mendez declared.

Secretary General Insulza, meanwhile, welcomed Mendez in the new capacity as leader of the Belizean delegation to the OAS. Noting the Belizean diplomat is soon to assume the chairmanship of the OAS Permanent Council of member state representatives, Insulza expressed confidence that Mendez’ familiarity with the Permanent Council’s work will serve him well.

“I am sure that you will be able to guide the Council in the most appropriate way,” the Secretary General said, touching on several important upcoming initiatives on the Organization’s agenda. Insulza noted the OAS’ satisfaction at the confidence invested in the organization’s ability to move forward to peaceful resolution of “a difficult problem”—the Belize-Guatemala territorial differendum, and he wished Mendez well during his tenure at the OAS.

Reference: E-234/08