OAS: Latest News

From OAS Secretary General, a Renewed Call for New Energy Order to Achieve Energy Security

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008

Renewing the call for a “new energy order,” OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza today argued strongly for stepped-up energy sector integration and cooperation among countries in the Americas as key to the objective of energy security. Insulza stressed that ensuring energy sector security in the Americas begins by acknowledging that current production, delivery and consumption patterns are unsustainable. He underscored the need to find a balance between national energy self-sufficiency initiatives on the one hand, and energy integration at the hemispheric level, on the other. Furthermore, the Secretary General noted, while the new energy order for the Americas is still taking shape, its foundation most certainly will based on energy integration but also on energy efficiency and diversification of energy supply as key principles.

At Trade and Investment Conference, OAS Secretary General Touts Progress and Challenges in the Americas

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008

Despite progress in reducing extreme poverty and maintaining relative stability of democracy in the Americas over the last few years, Organization of American States Secretary General José Miguel Insulza acknowledged today that the hemisphere still faces significant challenges because of climate change, energy sustainability and steep food prices increases, among other factors. “The challenges are piling [up],” the Secretary General warned, citing the energy situation stemming from oil price hikes. He also cited the food crisis as a real problem for Latin America, explaining that given the steep increases in food prices it is quite possible that some of those who had emerged from the ranks of the poor last year could very well return to poverty.

OAS’ Assistant Secretary General Goes to Haiti Thursday for First-Hand View of Situation

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008

Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, the OAS' Assistant Secretary General, arrives in Haiti on Thursday, on a two-day visit, to assess the situation on the ground after the recent deadly hurricanes, and to reaffirm OAS support for the new government. The visit includes meetings with President René Préval, Prime Minister Michèle Pierre Louis, and Foreign Minister, Alrich Nicholas. Ambassador Ramdin will reiterate OAS support and solidarity, particularly with the hurricane victims.

The OAS Celebrates 60th Anniversary of its Leo Rowe Fund

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008

The OAS this week put the spotlight on the contribution made by the Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund over the past 60 years in promoting the objectives of the hemispheric organization. Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador Deborah-Mae Lovell, who chairs the Leo Rowe Fund, led Member State representatives and the inter-American community in also paying tribute to the memory of the head of the OAS’ forerunner, the Pan-American Union. The revolving Fund was set up in keeping with the will and testament of Dr. Leo S. Rowe, who served as the Pan American Union’s General Director from 1920 until his death in 1946. Over the past sixty years, the Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund has helped students from Latin America and the Caribbean as well as OAS personnel to pursue tertiary education in the United States.

Ramdin Reaffirms OAS Commitment with the People of Haiti

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008

OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin concluded a two-day visit to Haiti, during which he expressed the Organization’s solidarity with the people of Haiti, delivered a monetary and in-kind contribution, and presented a proposal to analyze ways to support the relief efforts in the wake of the successive tropical storms that struck most areas of the Caribbean nation. “I believe that under these extraordinary circumstances the Government of Haiti not only needs the support of the international community, but also from the private sector, civil society and legislators in Haiti,” stated Ramdin.

OAS Launches Green Week

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008

The Organization of American States kicked off Green Week with a series of activities organized by the Permanent Council to raise awareness about climate change. The program inaugurating Green Week also included a panel discussion on “Sustainable Development in the Americas: Accomplishments and Lessons Learnt.” Experts from the OAS Department of Sustainable Development during Monday’s inauguration shared a wide range of information on projects and other endeavors being pursued by the hemispheric organization to support Member States. Those initiatives include strategic programs implemented in the areas of water, land, energy, and natural disaster risk management in the Americas.

Assistant Secretary General Leads OAS Delegation to Barbados for Launch of Negotiations on Summit of the Americas Declaration

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008

Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin leads an OAS delegation to Barbados tomorrow, as member governments gather to launch negotiations on the Declaration of Commitment that the hemisphere’s heads of state and government will issue at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, to be hosted by Trinidad and Tobago in April next year. The two-day Third Regular Meeting of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) begins Thursday with OAS Member States considering the Draft Declaration that the Trinidad and Tobago government had formally presented at the Second Regular Meeting of the SIRG in Washington, DC last July.

At OAS Roundtable, U.S. Senator Calls for Latin America Social and Economic Development Trust

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008

United States Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), participating at an OAS forum, today called for a Latin America trust for social and economic development, which would complement existing U.S. assistance to the countries of the region and would be an important mechanism to bring regional solutions to regional problems. Senator Menendez put forward the proposal as he spoke alongside another U.S. Senator, Mel Martinez (R-FL), during the 10th OAS Policy Roundtable, held at the Organization’s headquarters under the title, “Opportunities and Challenges in the Western Hemisphere: Perspectives from the United States Congress.”

The Group of Friends of Haiti Expresses Concerns over the Situation in Haiti

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008

Expressing deep concern that the disaster challenges have compounded the economic recovery of Haiti, Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Albert R. Ramdin, has however lauded the Haitian government’s effort to tackle the country’s difficult situation in the wake of Hurricanes Fay, Hanna, Gustav, and Ike. Ambassador Ramdin made the remarks Tuesday, during a meeting of the OAS Group of Friends of Haiti, convened at the Organization’s Washington, DC headquarters to review the report on the situation in the Caribbean nation. The meeting of the Group of Friends follows Ambassador Ramdin’s September 11-13 visit to Haiti.

In Mexico, OAS’ Insulza Calls for Regular Meeting of Security Ministers and Joint Action to Tackle Transnational Crime

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008

Mexico City—Mexican President Felipe Calderón and OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza today inaugurated the First Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security in the Americas, an OAS forum convened to consider joint strategies to tackle the scourge of crime and violence worldwide, and particularly in this hemisphere. Addressing top security officials from the 34 Member States, the Mexican leader praised the OAS’ initiative to bring the security ministers together to share experiences and devise a joint approach to transnational crime. He called on countries to collaborate to fight transnational crime on the basis of a collaborative approach, shared responsibility and respect for sovereignty.

OAS Hails International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008

Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin today reaffirmed the commitment of the Organization of American States to supporting its member countries’ efforts to reduce the impact of natural disasters, appealing to the hemisphere’s citizens to educate themselves on how to respond to hurricanes and other natural hazards, and to take part in the awareness exercises. Underscoring the importance of the International Day for Disaster Reduction being observed today, Ambassador Ramdin urged individuals to also be alert when information is being provided, “but most importantly, to make the effort to make the right choices in terms of where to build and where not to build.” He also made a pitch for observing the building codes so that roofs and other parts of buildings can sustain hurricane winds and other forces, thus mitigating damage as much as possible and making recovery much easier. “I hope that the people will not underestimate the impact of hurricanes.”

ETHANOL PRESENTS "Extraordinary Opportunity" to change energy matrix, says former Brazilian Minister

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008

Latin America is being presented with an “extraordinary opportunity” to change the international energy matrix, according to Co-Chairman of the Inter-American Ethanol Commission, Roberto Rodrigues. The former Brazilian agriculture minister said ethanol as a fuel also presents an opportunity to mitigate global warming while generating wealth in the poorest countries, creating jobs and bringing about a paradigm

At preparatory meeting of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, Insulza invites countries to consider the impact of the world’s economic situation on the region

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, invited national summit coordinators responsible for debating the content of the Fifth Summit’s “Declaration of Commitment” to consider the economic challenges that the world’s economy is currently facing. This statement was done in the framework of the preparations for the Fifth Summit of the Americas that will be held in Trinidad and Tobago on April 17 – 19, 2009.

Insulza highligths the strength of Venezuelan democracy after regional elections

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, congratulated the Government and the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, for the normality of the regional elections that took place yesterday in the country and praised the massive participation by Venezuela’s citizens, who went to the polls in a peaceful and orderly manner.

The OAS condemns terrorist violence in India

oasweb@oas.org (Department of Press and Communications) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008

The Organization of the American States energetically condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated yesterday in Mumbai, which have taken the life of more than a hundred victims. The OAS sends to the Government and the people of India its condolences and solidarity.