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ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL BRIEFS ARGENTINE SENATORS AND PALIAMENTARIANS ON OAS ROLE IN PEACE BUILDING AND INTER-STATE RELATIONS

The evolving role of the Organization of American States in multilateral matters related to the hemisphere’s challenges in crisis management, human security and inter-state relations, featured prominently as Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin met in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Victorio Tacetti and members of the Argentine Senate as well as with Deputies and Parliamentarians of the Civic Coalition Bloc.

A central theme in those discussions was the OAS’ recent engagement in the dispute between Ecuador and Colombia, as well as the current challenges facing the hemisphere in consolidating democratic processes.

During the meetings, which took place on the margins of a conference organized by the Regional Coordinator for Economic and Social Research (CRIES), in Argentina—in which he delivered a feature presentation on “Conflict Prevention in the 21st Century: Expanding the Role of Regional Organizations”—Ambassador Ramdin also explained that the Organization has been helping member states consolidate the gains of the democratization process over the past 25 years. He said the hemispheric organization will continue to focus its efforts on its three primary pillars: development, democracy and multidimensional security.

Ambassador Ramdin acknowledged, however, that a great deal remains to be done in some countries to further entrench democracy and democratic values in the minds of the people and in strengthening democratic governance, especially through sound public policies for greater transparency, accountability, equality and opportunity for all.

Additionally, the members of the Defense and International Commissions of the Argentine Senate shared their views on their expectations of the OAS, from a subregional perspective. An underlying issue in all of the discussions held was the importance of continuing support to strengthen multilateralism, and in particular, for regional and subregional organizations engaged in democratic governance, peace and security.

During the meeting with the members of the Civic Coalition Bloc, the deputies expressed their interest in learning more about the OAS electoral observation process and the possibility of receiving electoral technical assistance in future elections. Members of the opposition expressed interest in the “multidimensional integration of regional and subregional actors” as a way of unifying the hemisphere and working towards a more coherent economic and political integration strategy.

For their part, members of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies discussed the important role the OAS can play in strengthening regional parliamentary networks, to produce more effective parliaments in the hemisphere. In this regard, the ASG emphasized the past contributions of the OAS through the Inter-American Parliamentarian Forum (FIAPP), stressing his view that collaborating with Parliaments is critical to the strengthening of the democratic process.

Reference: E-115/08