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Dominican Republic Assumed the Chair of the Summits of the Americas Process

Photo: OAS

The Government of the Dominican Republic assumed last Friday, November 3, 2023, the Chair of the Summits of the Americas Process, on the road to the tenth meeting of heads of state and government of the region, to be held in 2025 in Punta Cana.

The Dominican government thus takes over from the United States, which hosted the ninth summit, held in Los Angeles in June 2022. The formal handover ceremony took place during a bilateral ceremony at the U.S. Department of State, with the participation of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, and Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, as well as authorities from the Organization of American States (OAS), which serves as the technical secretariat for the meetings through its Summits of the Americas Secretariat.

Assistant Secretary of State Nichols congratulated the Dominican Republic as the new leader of the Summits process. "We are honored to join U.S. Ambassador to the OAS, Frank Mora, to celebrate shared accomplishments and renew commitments towards a more democratic, resilient, sustainable, and equitable Americas for all,"he added.

Foreign Minister Alvarez reiterated the country's commitment to organizing an inclusive and effective Summit that not only addresses current issues of regional interest, but also sets a proactive path for the future. "Receiving the presidency of the Summit of the Americas is a great honor and a responsibility that we assume with the utmost commitment. We intend to build on the solid foundation left by our predecessors and work tirelessly to ensure that the 2025 Summit is a reflection of the aspirations and will of all the peoples of the Americas," said the Dominican minister.

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro highlighted the political commitments reached at the Los Angeles Summit in the areas of health, governance, environmental sustainability, energy and digital transformation. "For its leadership throughout the Ninth Summit process, we thank the Government of the United States," said Secretary General Almagro. "To the new host, the Dominican Government, we thank you for offering to lead this Summit Process, as host of the Tenth Summit of the Americas. Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez, you, your team and your government know that you can count on the full support of this General Secretariat, and especially its Summits of the Americas Secretariat," he added.

The Summits of the Americas represent the main forum for dialogue and political cooperation among the nations of the Western Hemisphere. Since the first Summit in 1994, it has served as a meeting point where the leaders of the Americas discuss the region's most pressing challenges, addressing issues ranging from economic development and environmental sustainability to the promotion of democracy and the fight against corruption.

The handover of the Summit chair concluded with a reception at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC with the participation of White House Special Advisor for the Americas, Senator Christopher J. Dodd, in addition to Secretary General Almagro, Foreign Minister Alvarez and other authorities from the Dominican Republic, the United States and OAS member states.

Reference: FNE-143740