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COLOMBIA ASSUMES CHAIRMANSHIP OF OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL

The Permanent Representative of Colombia to the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador. Luis Alfonso Hoyos, on Friday assumed Chairmanship of the Permanent Council and committed himself to “maintaining and strengthening confidence in multilateralism in this unique political forum that our continent employs to continue our collective action.”

The Colombian diplomat received the mallet from his predecessor, the Permanent Representative of Chile, Ambassador. Pedro Oyarce, and said that his tenure will be marked by “an understanding of differences” and “actions motivated by much fraternity but also frankness.” He also said, “As long as we understand what it is exactly we want to do, we will be able to move forward.”

“I hope to continue the magnificent work carried out by my predecessors: to keep a spirit of multilateralism; to bet on our work in Honduras, understanding that, besides restoring democracy, we have to find a path to reconciliation; to find ways for the Social Charter of the Americas to move to a plan of action; to adopt regulations for the victims’ fund of human rights violations; to promote the certification of quality for all governments; and to be formal in our work, being punctual, speaking prudently and with a spirit of frankness and fraternity,” he added.

Ambassador Oyarce stressed his conviction that “Colombia will perform at the highest possible level”, and encouraged the incoming Chairman to “highlight the value of collective action”, “support the capacity to undertake initiatives of the General Secretariat” and “protect the OAS as the only hemispheric system that protects our rights and protects us in times of crisis.”

In the same event, the Permanent Representative of Guatemala, Ambassador. Jorge Skinner-Klee, assumed from the Representative of Guyana, Ambassador. Bayney R. Karran, the role of Vice Chair of the Permanent Council.

The ceremony, which took place in the office of the Chair of the Permanent Council at OAS Headquarters in Washington, DC, was also attended by the Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, the Assistant Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, several Permanent Representatives to the OAS, and staff of the Permanent Missions and the General Secretariat.

The Statutes of the Permanent Council provide for the Chairmanship to be held by each of the principal 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 but following the reverse alphabetical order. Both offices are held for a three-month term.

Reference: E-318/09