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