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OAS Secretary General and Bolivian President Sign Agreement to Promote Effective Public Management

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today said the assistance provided by the OAS to the process of political transformations of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, led by President Evo Morales, is one of the tasks the hemispheric organization takes pride in. He also asserted that this stage in Bolivian history is marked by “great progress that has broken paradigms and has made this country more inclusive and participatory.”

Secretary General Insulza spoke during the signing ceremony of three agreements between the OAS and the Government of Bolivia involving the Program of Technical Cooperation 2010-2014, “Effective Public Management for a Good Life,” directed towards the modernization of the state apparatus with a view to fighting corruption, improving development and strengthening democratic institutions.

President Evo Morales thanked the presence of José Miguel Insulza in La Paz and placed special emphasis on the meaning to his country of the State plans for modernization contained in the signed agreements. “The OAS is not mistaken in supporting this process,” he told the Secretary General, adding with certainty that if his country had benefitted from such aid years ago, “today we could help other sister countries.” He also said that “my government will work jointly with the OAS to achieve the results we seek.”

Later, referring to the process of change in Bolivia, the Secretary General said that in the search for socioeconomic transformations “it is indispensable that the public apparatus have good management capabilities, because very good strategies can be elaborated and the best plans can be formulated, but if the State doesn’t have good implementation capabilities, the objectives can be missed.”

Upon explaining that this is the first experience to Bolivia as much as to the OAS in applying this plan oriented to strengthening public management, Secretary General Insulza highlighted its significance and called on the international community to support its financing to help Bolivian society take confident steps towards further development.

Addressing President Morales, the head of the OAS expressed his admiration for “an exemplary democratic process of revolutionary changes and unique characteristics,” and reiterated the desire of the regional organization to continue to support the efforts of the Bolivian people.

The Memorandums of Understanding adopted today seek to establish a framework for cooperation to support Bolivia’s national strategy for social, productive and industrial transformation; to motivate joint initiatives to seek financing that would allow the prompt execution and development of the Country’s Program – Strategy; and to provide support for the strengthening of the Civil Registry Service (SERECI).

The three agreements signed by the OAS General Secretariat and Bolivia’s Executive Power, Legislative Assembly and Supreme Electoral Court establish the technical support, coordination mechanisms and execution of specific activities to support the Program, to be provided through the Organization’s Department for Effective Public Management.

In addition to Secretary General Insulza and President Morales, the signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Choquehuanca; the Minister of the Presidency, Oscar Coca; the President of the House of Representatives, Héctor Arce; and the President of the Supreme Electoral Court, Wilfredo Ovando. Members of the Government cabinet, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, the Diplomatic Corps and International Organizations also were invited to the ceremony.

A photo gallery of the event is available here.

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

Reference: E-448/10