Farewell to Ambassador Carlos Játiva of Ecuador

Thank you, and good afternoon, Madam Chair,

As this is the first time I take the floor under your direction, I wish at the outset to say to you publicly, on behalf of our delegation, what we have already told you in private: you have the full support of the Dominican Republic in this quarter, and we are at your disposal to help the work flow effectively and smoothly in the search for consensus. We will always be allies of rationality, good sense and sincerity. We welcome your openness to dialogue and your interest in reaching consensus. We view your determination with sympathy, and we trust that you will be able to get past the obstacles that arise along the way. We remain at your disposal in the conduct of the work of this Council.

With the leave of our regional coordinator, the Ambassador of Panama, I wish to make this statement in my individual capacity:

Dear Don Carlos,

I begin my remarks by expressing my deep admiration for you. Your example and dedication have been inspiring. For me personally, it has been an honor to work with you.

In the Organization you have always been a beacon of pragmatism and effectiveness, and on the most difficult matters you have always been a bridge to dialogue and consensus.

I cannot hide that it saddens me to see you go. I will miss the maturity with which you face every situation, the enthusiasm you bring to discussions and your incomparable sense of humor.

On the other hand, it gives me joy to know that your talent, intelligence and capacity for work will continue to serve your country in another posting.

You, Ambassador Játiva, have always very actively represented the best interests of your country before our Organization, and the principles and values that unite us. Since my arrival I have seen in you a model.

Thank you for your advice, and for your interest in listening and in balancing points of view. I will particularly miss that telephone call just after the most heated discussions, in which you sought to bring certainty and confidence that things would move inexorably forward, even though in the heat of the debate they had seemed impossible.

I must recall here your masterly stewardship of the working group on the reform of the Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council, in which significant changes were achieved when the initial omens were truly terrifying. That is who you are: a diplomat who devotes himself to solving problems, to untying knots and to advancing with dignity the concerns of his country and of the whole. Bravo!

Finally, on behalf of my delegation, I wish to express to you all our appreciation and gratitude for your great work on behalf of the OAS, and to wish you every success in your professional and personal life, and that you may enjoy health and well-being with your family and loved ones.

You have left many friends and admirers here.

See you soon!