It is an honor for me once again to address this Sixth Meeting of Ministers of Justice or of Ministers or Attorneys General of the Americas at its closing session.

It does not happen often that I get the opportunity to address the Opening Ceremony as well as the Closing Session. But in this case it is a pleasant one, predominantly because of the leadership demonstrated by the Government of the Dominican Republic.

I have had the opportunity to not only witness the very practical discussions among Ministers of Justice or Attorneys General, but also to witness the preparations for the 36th General Assembly, which are part of my statutory responsibility in the OAS.

To those representing the Dominican Republic here today, especially my good friend Ambassador Roberto Alvarez, I am indeed impressed with the level and intensity of the preparations and the commitment demonstrated by the team under the leadership of Ambassador Jose Manuel Trullols and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Carlos Morales Troncoso. It all bodes well for a successful General Assembly of the 34 member states.

Allow me to say that this meeting of REMJA would not have been as successful and productive as it has been without the leadership and efficiency demonstrated by Judge Francisco Domínguez Brito, Attorney General of the Dominican Republic. And I ask you join me in a congratulatory applause.

In my opening address I observed that the Western Hemisphere is confronted with many challenges, among which many you have discussed over the past three days. It is important to continue this attention to these problems, because in my experience resolving the legal uncertainties is the starting point of resolving conflicts, one of the most immediate challenges in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most important tasks of the OAS leadership.

The Sixth Meeting of Ministers of Justice has undoubtedly laid the groundwork for an organizational structure that will bring together all the existing and new initiatives, mechanisms and conventions in a logical and meaningful way together, and we thank the Government of the Dominican Republic for placing this institutional necessity on the agenda of the VI REMJA meeting.

Let me once again underscore the diplomatic and professional skills of the Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the OAS, elected by you to chair the Working Group on the conclusions of this VI REMJA meeting. Ambassador Alvarez you make it not easier for us and for yourself, because due to your leadership and excellent diplomatic skills we will be calling upon you again during the upcoming Regular General Assembly.

I would also like to offer the wholehearted cooperation of the OAS General Secretariat in continuing to support the work of the REMJAs. I shall begin by transmitting to the Permanent Council and the OAS Secretary General the conclusions and recommendations adopted by this Meeting today, so that they can be presented in turn to the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth regular session, which will also be held in this beautiful city of Santo Domingo in June. Often we tend to disregard the work done by the supporting institutions and therefore I want to publicly recognize the good work done by Jean Michel Arrighi, Jorge Garcia Gonzalez and Reinaldo Rodriguez, as well as all the others so strongly involved in the proceedings of this meeting.

No doubt, this meeting has ratified our sense that justice is one of those common causes that unite us in the Americas and that, being united, we are sure to achieve more and better results, more rapidly and more effectively. The People of the Americas need our collective effort in creating a legal system that offers confidence and trust and contribute to a peaceful and secure environment, without which social and economic development for all is almost impossible, without which investors will not travel to our countries and regions, without which our children will not be guaranteed the opportunity to build a prosperous life.

I cannot finish these remarks by urging member states to continue supporting this process of hemispheric legal cooperation, by advocating the need of these deliberations, by encouraging your colleagues who could not join us here over the past three days to do so the next time.

I must also urge member states to continue supporting the excellent work done by many institutions, but certainly by the Justice Studies Center and I hope that your pledge of support will translate in an institutionalized funding for this important institution or research, technical assistance and legal memory in the Americas.

Finally, I wish to conclude these remarks by thanking the Government and, in particular, Dr. Rafael Alburquerque, Vice President of the Dominican Republic as well as Attorney General Dominguez Brito, who, through his steadfast support of this Meeting, has again confirmed his and the Government's commitment to the cause of justice and the consolidation of democracy in the Hemisphere. I also thank the people of the Dominican Republic for their warm welcome during our stay in this hospitable city.

On behalf of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, José Miguel Insulza, and on my own behalf, we thank you for the honor of allowing us to share this occasion with you and we wish you every success in the performance of your duties during the judicial year.

Thank you very much.