THE SECRETARY GENERAL:

In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by articles 114 and 118 of the Charter and articles 4, 8, and 11 of the General Standards to Govern the Operations of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States, and

HAVING SEEN:

Resolution AG/RES. 1229 (XXIII-0/93), which in pertinent part instructs the Secretary General "to continue his efforts to promote the public knowledge of the history, activities and goals of the OAS".

CONSIDERING:

That it is essential to promote the general knowledge of the history of the Organization and to foster a stronger public image of the Organization in the Member States; and

That it is important to assure that the role which the OAS has played in inter-American relations and the achievements of the inter-American system are appropriately recorded in the history of the Americas.

RESOLVES:

1. To create the Office of Historical Research of the Organization of American States within the Columbus Memorial Library, which will have the functions and responsibilities established in this Executive Order.

2. To assign the personnel of the Office of Coordination of the Quincentennial Commemoration to the Office of Historical Research.

I. RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Produce the official general and sectoral histories of the Organization and histories of specific programs of the General Secretariat;

2. Promote the Organization, in a historical perspective, with the universities and scholarly organizations in the member states;

3. Encourage the knowledge of the history of the Organization through public programs; and

4. Record and preserve the history of the Organization of American States.

II. FUNCTIONS

1. Produce the official histories of the OAS, its specialized organs and its specific programs, including the evolution of the Organization and its past activities in the Member States;

2. Prepare specific historical studies at the request of the political bodies and the Secretary General;

3. Record and archive the oral history of the General Secretariat;

4. Cooperate with other divisions of the Columbus Memorial Library in collecting and archiving the visual and pictorial history of the Organization and the activities of the General Secretariat;

5. Produce and publish historical series;

6. Create and manage a program of cooperation with universities with regard to specific studies about the history of the OAS;

7. Promote knowledge of the history of the OAS in the universities of the member states through lectures and workshops;

8. Produce public programs -- including exhibitions -- about the history of the OAS;

9. Coordinate the relations of the Office with other areas of the General Secretariat and Specialized Organs of the Organization;

10. Advise the Secretary General on matters related to the work of the Office.

III. AMENDMENTS AND REPEALS

This Executive Order supersedes all present norms, regulations and practices of the General Secretariat to the contrary.

IV. EFFECT

This Executive Order shall take effect on the date on which it is signed.

Joao Clemente Baena Soares
Secretary General

Date: September 15, 1993
Original: English