The return to in-person meetings: replies in the debate

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I wish to thank the colleagues who have spoken today, who are the majority, regarding the return to in-person meetings. I have seen a minority group that has tried to express its concerns and to request a series of requirements and conditions that have already been overcome in the territories where we all live.

I call for reflection on this. It is not clear to us, Mr. Chair, what the delegations that have spoken of a gradual return are referring to. Our understanding would be that the Permanent Council and the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) could already be in a position to meet in person, and that the other organs and offices would continue virtually.

I would like, if possible, to have it clarified whether that is the correct understanding of the question of gradualness; if so, it seems splendid to me, and we could begin to meet in person immediately.

Thank you.

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Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I believe I must disagree with the position of Ambassador Ronald Sanders, in the sense that his interpretation reflects a very particular view that he has taken of the discussion we have had today.

Two regional groups have spoken on this subject, five Member States have raised some kind of reservation, and there is a clear majority here in favor of returning to in-person meetings.

As for the date of return, I do not understand the reason for that day. Since the Dominican Republic's chairmanship of the Permanent Council concluded, on December 31, 2021, everything was ready in terms of technical capacity and arrangements on the part of the General Secretariat to hold in-person meetings. The Dominican Republic rejects the date of May 1, 2022, and, if a date must be set, suggests that it be April 1, 2022.

Secondly, it seems to me that vaccination is not a matter to be reopened; back in May we approved, all states adopted, by unanimous vote in that resolution, that delegations were to notify the Secretariat of the vaccination status of their staff. The Dominican Republic did so immediately; those who have not done so are simply still due to comply with a rule we gave ourselves.

Therefore, Mr. Assistant Secretary General, the Dominican Republic proposes that in-person meetings begin on April 1, 2022, for the Permanent Council and the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), and it could be May 1, 2022, for the other organs. Why? Because we all know that from May onward the substantive work of the Organization declines, since we will be devoted to the Summit of the Americas in the first week of June, and we know that July and August are months of, let us say, lighter work, and the Organization returns to its normal rhythm in September.

If we leave the start for May and June, we will see each other again in September. We therefore do not share that idea, and I ask the Assistant Secretary General to please record in that document the states that have made the proposals, so that the level of support each one has is made evident.

Thank you very much.