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France Delivers Contribution to the OAS to Fund Electoral Observation Missions

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government of France today signed an agreement by which the European country will donate 150,000 euros to the Fund for Electoral Observation Missions (EOM) to be deployed by the hemispheric institution in 2014-2016.

The Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, emphasized the key role of the EOMs in the promotion and advancement of democracy in the Hemisphere, and recalled that six observation missions were conducted during the first four months of 2014, while another ten will take place during the rest of the year. “To join with the government of France in these efforts will no doubt provide a key support in carrying out this important task entrusted to the OAS," he said.

"The signing of today's agreement is another example of France's commitment to further strengthen its cooperation for the benefit of the citizens of the Americas," said Secretary General Insulza, who stressed the importance of the input and interaction of the European country with the OAS, an organization to which it has been a Permanent Observer since 1972.

Insulza said EOMs "are one of the most important tools that we have for our Organization to consolidate democratic values and strengthen democratic institutions in our countries," emphasizing that "our Inter-American Democratic Charter establishes the holding of periodic, free, and fair elections based on secret and universal voting as an expression of the sovereignty of the people, one of the essential elements of representative democracy."

The OAS leader recalled that the Organization has a history of over 50 years deploying hundreds of missions to observe elections in almost all the countries of the region, and at all levels of government, including presidential, legislative, municipal elections and referendums. He noted that "it is important to emphasize that the process does not end with the observation, but the cycle continues with technical support to the electoral bodies of our States through various institutional strengthening projects, and the implementation of systems of quality management and certification under ISO standards.

For his part, the Permanent Observer of France to the OAS, Ambassador Jean-Claude Nolla, noted that the contribution to EOMs is due to the special attention his country places on the actions of the OAS in this area, which he said "constitutes an important element in the consolidation and extension of democracy in the Americas."

Ambassador Nolla noted that for more than a quarter of a century democracy has emerged as normal and legitimate form of political power in the Americas, adding that "now the political health of the Americas can be measured by the rhythm of democratic alternations, and without much drama." In this regard, the French diplomat recalled the political situation in the region before 1990, when many governments of the region were not elected democratically, and he appreciated "the immense progress made in 25 years."

Ambassador Nolla also noted that the OAS must play an indispensable role in the progress of democracy in the Americas, which is a crucial element of its legitimacy. "It's never an easy role, nor is it a quiet role, but it is a role that only the OAS can play," he said.

The French diplomat said that the EOMs of the OAS carry out their tasks with "conviction, determination and independence, and this is something that France welcomes." He added that the OAS has a central role in ensuring the transparency of elections in the region, because "a true democracy must have free and fair elections to renew the covenant between citizens and their representatives."

The agreement was signed at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC. The ceremony was attended by the Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the OAS; representatives of the Missions of the United States and Canada; the Chief of Staff of the OAS Secretary General, Hugo de Zela; the OAS Secretary for External Relations, Alfonso Quiñonez; the Director of the OAS Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, Gerardo Hernández de Icaza; and the Director of the OAS Department of International Affairs, Jorge Sanin.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

The B-Roll of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-154/14