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ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL TOUTS OAS STRENGTH IN PEACE-BUILDING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Assistant Secretary Albert R. Ramdin, speaking today at a conference in Argentina, touted the role of the Organization of American States in the recent conflicts between Colombia and Ecuador as demonstration of the strength of multilateralism and the commitment and power of a consensus-based organization to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

He argued as well that “the only option to achieve this noble objective of peace, stability and equality is if we combine holistically an agenda for peace with an agenda for sustainable social and economic development, an approach which some have termed “human security”.

Declaring that its unique convening power makes the OAS the most appropriate inter-American forum to facilitate such an approach, Ambassador Ramdin told participants at the meeting organized by the Regional Coordinator for Economic and Social Research (CRIES), in Argentina, that the OAS only intervenes in pre- or post-conflict situations with an invitation or consent from the government of the country. And, he explained, this presents both challenges and opportunities to the OAS, politically and legally.

Among the principals at the meeting were Andrés Serbin, Executive Director of CRIES and GPPAC Regional Initiator for Latin America and the Caribbean; Carlos Felipe Martínez, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Permanent Resident Coordinator of UN System in Argentina; Alberto Dalotto, Chief of Staff of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Senator María Cristina Perceval, Defense and International Commissions of the Argentine Senate; Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize winner 1980; and Augusto Miclat Jr., Executive Director of Initiative for International Dialogue, from the Philippines. Members of the diplomatic corps and civil society organizations also participated.

Speaking in Buenos Aires, on “Conflict Prevention in the 21st Century: Expanding the Role of Regional Organizations,” Ramdin urged a more pro-active role in building peaceful societies, through quiet diplomacy, greater co-operation and sharing of information and experiences, improved analyses, and reviews of normative and legal frameworks. He suggested the Western Hemisphere begin thinking of a comprehensive hemispheric security arrangement by studying existing security mechanisms in the different countries and sub-regions and bring these together to develop a common and workable security paradigm.

Ambassador Ramdin called for continued support to multilateralism, calling it “vital to the strengthening of peace building efforts in the hemisphere.” Equally important to stronger peace-building, he identified the strengthening of regional and sub-regional organizations working in the areas of democratic governance, peace and security. He said effective peace building efforts require continued commitment to comprehensive capacity-building at all levels of government and society. He went on to warn that we cannot afford to ignore the impact of social, economic and environmental challenges on peace, stability and ultimately democracy in the affected countries and sub-regions.

The Assistant Secretary General also suggested that priority be placed on capacity-building after peacekeeping, peace building or a crisis support operation is withdrawn. “The single most important lesson that we have learnt is that in order for peace to be sustained, the concerned national actors have to be supported in owning and resolving the relevant issues on their own initiative,” he added.

Against the background of the democratization process of the last 25 years, among other overriding realities facing the countries of the Americas, Assistant Secretary General Ramdin also lamented that despite significant economic development in many respects, the Americas remains the region with the highest levels of income inequality. He remarked: “We still have some 220 million people, mostly women and children, living in poverty, surviving on one US dollar a day or less, that many in our countries experience social inequality, social exclusion and discrimination.”

Reference: E-111/08