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OAS Sends Condolences to Chilean Government

During the regular session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), the representatives of member countries expressed their condolences and solidarity with the Government and people of Chile, particularly the families of the 21 people missing after a plane accident last September 2nd. They also expressed their solidarity with the people and Government of Mexico for the losses and damage caused by persistent rain in the northern metropolitan area, which caused flooding and left many communities isolated.

During today's session, the Chairman of the Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Guatemala, Ambassador Jorge Skinner-Klee, also presented a report of the Hemispheric Commemoration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, which took place on September 3 and 4 in Valparaiso, Chile, an event also attended by Secretary General José Miguel Insulza and by Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, as well as by foreign ministers and special guests from the region.

Ambassador Skinner-Klee provided a summary of the meeting and its main findings, including the renewal of the commitment of the Americas to democracy, a call for analysis of the challenge of social inclusion, the interdependence between democracy and social inclusion, the need to ensure full citizen participation, and the role of the OAS in preventive actions.

The session also was an opportunity to welcome the new Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the OAS, Bernardo Roberto Saladin Selin, who expressed his satisfaction with being appointed to the organization, stating that "from this forum I will have the opportunity to pursue, with representatives of sister nations, a common agenda based on the principles and values ​​we share." He added that "we believe the importance of this agenda lies on greater cooperation between our states.”

The Permanent Council also bid farewell to the Ambassador of Costa Rica, José Enrique Castillo Barrantes, who finished his duties after three and a half years as representative to the OAS. The Costa Rican diplomat, who has been appointed as his country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the organization remains "irreplaceable," and highlighted the "technical and political cooperation the OAS provides its members is what makes it unique" in the region. Then he added that "if there is something that spans the shared identity of Americans above all their differences, it is the OAS," and he then called for "renewing and strengthening it with collective political will."

The Council's agenda also included a presentation by General Guy Thibault, who took office as Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) two months ago. In response to the presentation, delegates offered their support and commitment to the Board as well as their wishes to continue working together in areas of defense.

The regular meeting also included an intervention by the Permanent Representative of Panama, Ambassador Guillermo Cochez, who announced the withdrawal of his request for an audit of the General Secretariat. Ambassador Cochez thanked the Secretary General’s willingness to provide the information he had requested regarding the management of funds and contracts, and he made some additional requests. Secretary General Insulza reiterated his readiness to promptly deliver the requested information, as he has on previous occasions.

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

Reference: E-819/11