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New OAS Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the OAS Presents Credentials

Ambassador Martín Federico Sannemann Meilinger today delivered to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, the letters accrediting him as the new Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the hemispheric body.

During the ceremony, the diplomat reiterated his country’s appreciation for “the support we receive from the countries who understood and respected the self-determination of the Paraguayan people” following the impeachment of former President Fernando Lugo. He thanked the government of President Federico Franco for “the trust placed in me in order that I carry out his representation;” a decision that is “especially important considering what the Organization of American States means for my country today.”

Ambassador Sannemann also praised the work of the process of electoral accompaniment in his country, ahead of the 2013 presidential elections, a task, he said that the OAS is carrying out “at the request of the Secretary General and of its Member States” and “that reflects the opening which our government provides.” He assured that this means, “a guarantee of a transparent process” for Paraguay. “I offer the support of our country to face the challenges that lie ahead of us as an organization,” he added.

For his part, Secretary General Insulza welcomed the new Paraguayan representative and acknowledged he was "convinced of the contribution of his country to the democratic process in the hemisphere." Secretary Insulza recalled that the entity that he leads is in favor "of inclusion and never exclusion, unless in very severe cases that merit it," noting that the region is going through a period "in which democracy has been imposed as a way of life, not just as a form of government." "No one can be criticized or condemned without being heard, everyone has the same rights and everyone should participate," he said, referring to the political crisis that Paraguay has recently experienced.

"This organization deals with politics, with democracy, with human rights, with freedom, with dialogue and that’s why we welcome with great happiness and enthusiasm your collaboration," he said to the Paraguayan diplomat.

Present at the ceremony, held at the headquarters of the organization in Washington, DC, were the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Ambassador Albert Ramdin, and the Chair of the Permanent Council and Representative of Mexico to the hemispheric body, Ambassador Joel Hernández, among other authorities.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

The video of the event is available here.

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

Reference: E-379/12