Contributions 2007


BACKGROUND

The status of Permanent Observer to the OAS has its origin in the efforts of the Secretary General that, since 1962, have come to promote the participation of the non-Member States in activities related with development cooperation. Similarly, resolution CP/RES. 407 (573/84) indicates that the Permanent Council, in examining the application of a non-Member State to enter as a Permanent Observer, will consider, as well as the points of view of the Member States, “the contributions that the petitioning State could offer to the programs of the Organization.”

To date, Permanent Observer status has been granted to 63 states and the European Union. Of this number, approximately 19 countries contribute regularly to OAS programs and an additional nine contribute sporadically.

The Permanent Observers provide assistance and cooperation for various OAS programs in the form of cash contributions, training courses, experts, specialized services, and the donation of equipment. In addition to this collaboration, some countries, in particular Spain, France and Italy that have Ambassadors accredited exclusively to the OAS, maintain a permanent dialogue with the General Secretariat regarding themes of common interest.

The Department of International Affairs (DIA) is responsible for coordinating the relations with the Permanent Observers with the goal of providing information regarding the mission of the Organization and the priorities of the hemispheric agenda, as well as obtain substantive support and financing for OAS activities. With this purpose, DIA works closely with the specialized unites of the Organization to identify opportunities for support to the programs of the Secretary General, as well as to negotiate agreements for cooperation.


Contributions: 2014·2013·2012·2011·2010·2009·2008·2007·2006·2005

 

ORIGIN OF FUNDS 1999-2007

In the last nine years, cash contributions of the Permanent Observers to the activities and programs of the Organization reached approximately US$ 108 million, with Sweden as the primary contributor. Of the total contributions received, 69% were donated by the governments of Sweden (US$ 36.2 million), Spain (US$ 22.6 million) and Norway (US$ 16 million). The Netherlands, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Japan, Italy, France, Finland and Ireland contributed another 29% of the donations. These 12 Permanent Observers have contributed 98% of the total amount of contributions made to the Organization.

Similarly, in the same period, the Organization has received the equivalent of approximately US$ 8.3 million in contributions in kind from Spain, Korea, Israel, France, Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Thailand, Romania, Germany and China,  primarily in training scholarships  and in the form of equipment, experts, computers and vehicles. Of that, Spain contributed 60 percent, making it the largest in-kind donor.  

The primary activities that these countries support are: strengthening of democratic institutions, electoral observation missions, promotion of human rights, freedom of expression, the rights of indigenous peoples, dimining, conflict resolution, efforts to combat corruption, efforts to combat drug trafficking, gender equality and sustainable development and the environment, among others.

 

2007 CONTRIBUTIONS

  • Cash Contributions

    In 2007, Permanent Observer cooperation grew by 6.33% when compared to 2006. During this period, the Organization received cash contributions amounting to a total of US$ 20,298,894 from the following Permanent Observer countries: Spain, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and the European Union, Italy, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, France, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Korea, Austria, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal and Germany (Appendix VI) 

    Of the contributions received in 2007, 45% came from Spain, 20% from Sweden, 8% from Norway, 8% from the Netherlands y 5% from the European Union. Italy, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, France, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Turkey contributed together 14% of the total. Also, smaller contributions were received from Austria, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal and Germany.

    The contributions of Spain during the period in question for this report continue to rise (26% greater than the previous year) with support of more than 9 million dollars, thanks to the creation of the Spanish Fund for the OAS created in the previous year as well as the interest of the new Spanish government to raise the traditional relationship of cooperation with the Organization to greater levels. The result of this decision is reflected today in the fact that Spain has now become the principal donor to the Organization amongst the Permanent Observers.

    Equally, the Netherlands raised its cooperation by 394% in comparison to the previous year, given the important contribution realized to the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OEA). Not withstanding, even though the level of cooperation by Holland has increased substantially over the past year, the Netherlands have traditionally been an important partner of the OAS. The same occurred with Denmark who registered an increase of approximately 454% in their respective contributions from 2006. In both cases, the success of this renewed commitment with the Organization is due in large part to the efforts of the Department of External Relations in meeting with the highest level of government representatives of both countries in their respective capitals, as well as at Headquarters, in order to identify potential opportunities for support. Similarly, cooperation by Turkey with respect to previous years increased 681% as a result of an important contribution to the Fund for Peace. Also, it should be noted the increased contributions on the part of Italy (57%), Greece (50%), and the European Union (11%). Finally, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland and Ireland returned to support some programs of the OAS, some of them after many years of absence.

    On the other hand, Sweden, who is traditionally the principal donor to the OAS, decreased its cooperation by 41% in comparison with the previous year. This is due to the fact that the Swedish government and the Swedish Agency for Cooperation implemented a new policy with regard to its development aid, based on a new emphasis in poverty reduction in the most dire regions, i.e., Africa. Likewise, the United Kingdom reduced its support by 43%, Japan by 24%, France by 30%, Korea by 23%, China by 14%, Norway by 6% and Finland by 4%. At the same time, it should also be noted that Germany reduced its contributions by 52%, which is due to the fact that important cooperation agreements during 2007 were not registered at the close of the fiscal year, but they will be reflected as contributions received in 2008.

    Finally, Qatar, who during this last three years has given smaller annual contributions to the OAS, did not contribute during 2007, the same occurring with Thailand.  
  • Contributions in Kind

    Contributions in kind totaled US$821,156 during 2007 and Spain was once again the principal donor, supporting scholarship and training efforts by offering courses and scholarships equating to US$424,924, such as workshops and meetings on matters related to narcotics at a value of US$159,000, through CICAD. Likewise, Korea offered a course on e-commerce, valuing US$80,000 and Israel provided training workshops at a value of US$54,000 for young entrepreneurs of the Americas through the “Young America’s Business Trust.” For their part, Switzerland contributed by sending 6 electoral observers (2 for the Electoral Observation Mission in Colombia and 4 for the Electoral Observation Mission in Guatemala) at a total of US$63,500. At the same time, France provided two seminars under the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) for a total of US$30,000 and sent a Professor to Río de Janeiro to teach a short-term course on Private International Law (contribution equivalent to US$3,000). Finally, Germany for the first time, invited an OAS representative to participation in a diplomatic training session valued at US$6,732.
  • Programs Receiving Donations

    The areas that most benefited from 2007 cash contributions were: the Secretariat for Political Affairs (53%), the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (18%), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (14%). The Executive Secretariat for Integral Development and smaller specialized agencies of the General Secretariat also received donations, but in smaller quantity. It should be pointed out that the bulk of the contributions received in the Department of Multidimensional Security were earmarked for demining activities in the region.

October 26, 2007 - NORWEGIAN CONTRIBUTION SUPPORTS OAS DEMINING PROGRAMS IN THE AMERICAS

A contribution of US$785,791 made by the Government of Norway will help support the work of the Office of Humanitarian Mine Action of the Organization of American States (OAS). The contribution coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, commemorated in Oslo last month.

Of the total funds, US$100,000 will be allocated to the victim assistance programs in Colombia and Peru. The remaining amount will provide support to Nicaragua’s demining effort and enable Central American countries to export their experience. Click here to see the entire text of the press release

October 1, 2007, the Korean government announced a contribution of $20,000 to support the Promotion of Democracy Among the Youth of the Americas through the Model OAS General Assembly, as well as a $20,000 contribution to support the Referendum in the Republic of Costa Rica over the ratification of the “Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade” (DR-CAFTA) to be held on October 7, 2007.  Mrs. Klinger, Director of the Department of International Affairs of the OAS, welcomed these contributions and commended the Korean delegation for their support to OAS activities.  

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Press Release

September 18, 2007 Spain announces contribution to the OAS aimed at strengthening development cooperation in the Americas. 

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September 13, 2007 Ambassador Alexandros Mallias, Permanent Observer of Greece, delivers a US$30,000 check to Secretary General José Miguel Insulza to support fight against trafficking in human beings.   Place: OAS Headquarters; Washington, D.C. 

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March 30, 2007 - The Government of the People’s Republic of China announced today a total contribution of US$77,000 to support the following OAS programs:

1) The Promotion of Democracy Among the Youth of the Hemisphere through the Model OAS General Assembly (MOAS);

2) The Lecture Series of the Americas; and

3) The Reduction of Natural Disasters Risk Project.  

March 27, 2007 - the Governments of Turkey and the Federal Republic of Germany announced that they will make new cash contributions to OAS activities. The Turkish contribution of US$15,000 will support a study on public security to be carried out by the Department of Public Security, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security. The German contribution of US$15,300 will support a seminar on electoral processes, which will take place on June 2, in Panama, prior to the XXXVII OAS General Assembly. This seminar is being organized by the Department for the Promotion of Democracy, Secretarial for Political Affairs.

February 8, 2007 - Denmark presented a donation to support the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, within the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Place: OAS Building - Washington, DC
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