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OAS and Latin American Council of Electoral Experts Sign Cooperation Framework Agreement

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jose Miguel Insulza, and the Chairman of the Latin American Council of Electoral Experts (CEELA), Nicanor Moscoso Pezo, today signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement between the two institutions.

The agreement seeks to promote the development of joint initiatives on electoral matters, in areas such as the exchange of information, electoral experts and technicians in projects of assistance and cooperation to benefit the Member States; the organization of conferences, seminars, symposiums, forums, commissions, and academic meetings that contribute to strengthen processes of integration; and the publication of materials.

During the event, Secretary General Insulza said the agreement signed "fits inside a policy we have been working on in the last couple of years at the OAS, designed to expand activity on electoral matters."

The head of the hemispheric organization said the OAS has "an established reputation on matters of electoral observation, and our reports often are used to strengthen electoral systems in different nations."

The Chairman of CEELA recognized the importance the agreement has for the institution he heads "because it is an opportunity to continue serving our countries with the purpose of contributing to democracy in Latin America with all that we have learned in the political sphere."

"With this agreement we can offer countries our experiences in democracy, such as the one we receive today from the Organization of American States."

To the OAS, the agreement joins others signed with regional electoral institutions such as the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) and the Electoral Court of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (TEPJF), both of Mexico; the Superior Electoral Court of Brazil (TSE); the National Electoral Chamber of Argentina (CNE); and the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

Also present at the event, which took place in the office of the Secretary General in Washington, DC, were the Vice Chair of the Permanent Council and representative of Ecuador, Ambassador Maria Isabel Salvador; the permanent representative of the Dominican Republic, Ambassador Virgilio Alcantara; the Director of the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation of the OAS, Pablo Gutierrez; and the Official Member of the Electoral Assembly of the Dominican Republic, Rosario Graciano De los Santos.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

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

Reference: E-488/10