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CANADA ASSUMES PRESIDENCY OF OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL

The Permanent Representative of Canada to the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Graeme C. Clark, assumed on Wednesday the Presidency of the Permanent Council of the Organization, in a ceremony where he received the symbolic gavel from his predecessor, the Permanent Representative of Brazil, Ambassador Osmar Vladimir Chohfi.

At the same event it took effect the succession at the Vice-Presidency of the Permanent Council. The Permanent Representative of Haiti, Ambassador Duly Brutus, assumes the role played so far by the representative of Honduras, Ambassador Carlos Sosa.

The ceremony took place in the office of the President of the Permanent Council, at the OAS Headquarters in Washington, DC. Also in attendance were the OAS Secretary General, Jose Miguel Insulza, the Assistant Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, and several permanent representatives and observers to the Hemispheric organism.

The incoming president said that his tenure will have three “modest” goals. First, Clark explained, will be “to support our friends from Trinidad y Tobago as they mount the next Summit of the Americas,” which will take place in Port-of-Spain on April 17-19.

Furthermore, Clark said, he will “support the efforts” by Honduras to have a “successful, productive and constructive” OAS General Assembly. The 39th Hemispheric meeting will take place on June 1-3 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Third goal is assuring both meetings are not “stand alone events”. Ambassador Clark expressed his desire that “the deliberations and discussions of our leaders in Port-of-Spain feed in to the OAS and General Assembly in San Pedro Sula.”

Ambassador Chohfi described as “an honor” and “a privilege” having presided over the Permanent Council, and expressed his gratefulness to his team and all other permanent representatives.

“Together we give life to this institution. This is what really is the essence of the political meaning of the OAS. We have different origins, personalities and styles, but we have a common aim and we all want to support and defend the interests of our countries. We share the idea of maintaining this Council open the people of our societies.”

The Brazilian representative gave his best wishes to Clark on his task ahead, and expressed his convincement that the Canadian representative’s “personal and professional qualities” will be of key importance for the success of the “important negotiations” that will take place during his presidency.

Ambassador Clark presided today over his first regular meeting of the Permanent Council, where he received specific congratulations from all representatives in attendance. Clark also presented Ambassador Chohfi with a commemorative plaque recognizing his work as head of the Permanent Council.

The presidency of the Permanent Council is held by each of the permanent representatives in turn, following the alphabetical order in Spanish of the names of their respective countries. The office of the Vice Chair is filled in the same way, following the reverse alphabetical order. Both offices are held for a term of three months.

Reference: E-103/09