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ON BOGOTA VISIT, OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MEETS
WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

  July 27, 2007


During a visit to Bogota today, Organization of American States (OAS) Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin met with Colombia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Fernando Araujo.

Both officials used the opportunity to engage in discussions on the XXXVIII Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly which will be held in Colombia in June 2008. The 2008 General Assembly is particularly significant as it will also mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the OAS Charter which created the OAS in its current form. The Charter, signed in Bogota, Colombia in 1948 created the foundations and ideals which today continue to inform the OAS.

In summing up the meeting, Ramdin emphasized his view that "an early exchange of ideas and the sharing of information during the preparatory phase of the General Assembly are essential for the planning and execution of a successful General Assembly."

The Assistant Secretary General declared himself pleased with the discussions held in the Colombian capital as well as with previous discussions with Colombia's Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Camilo Ospina.

On this visit to the Colombian capital, Assistant Secretary General Ramdin also met with the Vice Minister of Multilateral Issues in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Adriana Mejía; Dr. Eugenio Marulanda Gomez, President, Colombian Confederation of Chambers of Commerce (CONFECAMARAS) as well as several members of the international community.

Reference: E-186/07