OAS, June 13, 2015 -- The 45th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), which begins Monday, will be the first step in a transformation of the hemispheric Organization into an effective instrument to facilitate the resolution of problems in the Hemisphere.
This is the view of both member countries and the newly arrived Secretary General, Luis Almagro, who stressed in a recent editorial that "The OAS is an organization mired in ´Command and Control´ structures, far removed from the modern organizations of today, based on knowledge and constant learning. We must and we will change that through a sustainable process."
The 45th General Assembly http://www.oas.org/en/45ga/) - whose central theme is "The Present and Future of the OAS” – looks to move forward in the revitalization of the Organization and to align its structure to bring the OAS closer to the people in the Americas, anchored in the Strategic Vision) for the Organization, as approved by member states.
The Permanent Representative of Guatemala and regional coordinator at the Permanent Council of the OAS for the Central American Integration System (SICA), Jose Maria Argueta, said the Assembly represents a "unique opportunity" to debate the future of the OAS, something that "will not happen again for a long time." Meanwhile, the alternate Representative of The Bahamas, and regional coordinator of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Eugene Newry, said the new administration has many ideas that CARICOM considers important for the Caribbean and the rest of the OAS. "That's why we look forward to the debates, and hopefully the passing of resolutions in the next week," he added.
The OAS that emerges from this process should be an efficient institution working to ensure "more rights for more people" in the Americas, according to Almagro who hopes that the Assembly will produce a frank and open dialogue with the foreign ministers of the Hemisphere.
For his part, the Permanent Representative of Colombia and coordinator of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), a group that brings together South America and Mexico, Andres Gonzalez, quoted the first OAS Secretary General, Colombian Alberto Lleras Camargo, who said "'the OAS will be what countries want it to be”, and said therefore a strong political will is required from everyone in the Hemisphere, from north to south, including the Caribbean, to tackle these challenges together with the leadership of Secretary General Almagro."
Offering the perspective of her country, the Interim Representative of Canada, Jennifer May Loten, said that her has country is looking forward to the Assembly as an opportunity for member states to continue the conversation on how to strengthen the Organization, and also stressed the importance of the new administration at the head of the OAS. "We´re looking for a modern, rationalized and streamlined OAS, that can best deliver results for the citizens of the Americas," she said.
Other events of the Assembly
In addition to the central theme of the General Assembly, member states may submit to the plenary any other current issue or those that it deems relevant. The Assembly, among other decisions, plans to elect authorities of various agencies and entities such as four members of the Commission;
• Four of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights;
• Two of the Inter-American Juridical Committee;
• Two of the Justice Studies Center of the Americas; two of the Administrative Tribunal; and
• One of the Board of External Auditors to Examine the Accounts of the General Secretariat.
Activities with non-governmental actors on Sunday
Activities within the framework of the Assembly-in which a thousand people are expected to participate will begin one day before its formal inauguration. On Sunday June 14, Secretary General Almagro will meet with representatives of civil society. In addition, heads of delegations will hear comments from civil society and the private sector and representatives of workers. In the afternoon, the Secretary General will do the same with the heads of Permanent Observers.
The activities of the Assembly can be followed live on the OAS website and at the following link.
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