Special meeting

CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA CELEBRADA EL

18 DE JULIO DE 2022

- Nómina de los miembros que asistieron a la sesión

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las diez y diez minutos de la mañana del lunes 18 de julio de 2022, celebró sesión extraordinaria el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados Americanos con el objeto de recibir al Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Asuntos Internacionales y Cooperación Internacional de ese país, excelentísimo señor Albert Ramdin. Presidió la sesión la Embajadora Lou-Anne Gaylene Gilchrist, Representante Permanente de San Vicente y las Granadinas y Presidenta del Consejo Permanente. Asistieron los siguientes miembros:

Embajador Josué Antinoe Fiallo, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana y

Vicepresidente del Consejo Permanente

Embajador Ronald Sanders, Representante Permanente de Antigua y Barbuda

Embajador Anthony Phillips-Spencer, Representante Permanente de Trinidad y Tobago

Embajadora Rita Claverie de Sciolli, Representante Permanente de Guatemala

Embajadora Yolande Yvonne Smith, Representante Permanente de Grenada

Embajador Gustavo Tarre, Representante Permanente de Venezuela

Embajadora Luz Elena Baños Rivas, Representante Permanente de México

Embajador Hugh Adsett, Representante Permanente del Canadá

Embajadora Alejandra Solano, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica

Embajador Carlos Alberto Raimundi, Representante Permanente de la Argentina

Embajador Washington Abdala, Representante Permanente del Uruguay

Embajador Lynn Raymond Young, Representante Permanente de Belize

Embajador Samuel Hinds, Representante Permanente de Guyana

Embajador Léon Charles, Representante Permanente de Haití

Embajador Chet D. Neymour, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas

Embajadora Elizabeth Darius-Clarke, Representante Permanente de Santa Lucía

Embajador Jan Marten Willem Schalkwijk, Representante Permanente de Suriname

Embajador Carlos Roberto Quesada López, Representante Permanente de Honduras

Embajador Sebastián Kraljevich Chadwick, Representante Permanente de Chile

Señora Judith-Anne Rolle, Representante Interina de Dominica

Señor Raúl Mariano Martínez, Representante Interino del Paraguay

Señor Bradley A. Freden, Representante Interino de los Estados Unidos

Ministro Consejero Kennedy Obed Reyes Lazo, Representante Interino de El Salvador

Embajadora María Fernanda Cortizo Frías, Representante Interina de Panamá

Ministro Consejero Omari S. Williams, Representante Alterno de San Vicente y las Granadinas

Primera Secretaria Mandisa Akila A. Downes, Representante Alterna de Barbados

Señora Adriana Maldonado, Representante Alterna de Colombia

Ministro Marco Vicente Ponce Villacis, Representante Alterno del Ecuador

Consejero Pedro Da Silveira Montenegro, Representante Alterno del Brasil

Consejera Cecelia Urquieta Pardo, Representante Alterna de Bolivia

Ministro Consejero José Roberto Rodríguez, Representante Alterno del Perú

Estuvo también presente el Secretario General, Luis Almagro Lemes.

Aprobación del orden del día

La PRESIDENTA: Good morning, esteemed colleagues.

Following verification of the quorum by the Secretariat, I am pleased to declare open this special meeting of the Permanent Council, which has been convened at the request of the Permanent Mission of Suriname, as contained in document CP/INF. 9411/22, for the purpose of receiving the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, His Excellency Albert Ramdin.

[El proyecto de orden del día contiene los siguientes puntos:

1. Aprobación del orden del día (CP/OD-2385/22)

2. Alocución del Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Asuntos Internacionales y Cooperación Internacional de la República de Suriname, excelentísimo Señor Albert Ramdin, sobre las perspectivas caribeñas del sistema interamericano

- Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros]

Considering the draft order of business, CP/OD-2385/22, as adopted, allow me to express, on behalf of the Permanent Council, our warmest welcome to Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Ramdin.

Minister Ramdin, welcome back to the House of the Americas.

Alocución del Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Asuntos Internacionales y Cooperación Internacional de la República de Suriname, excelentísimo Señor Albert Ramdin, sobre las perspectivas caribeñas del sistema interamericano

La PRESIDENTA: We now move to item 2.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Ramdin is a Surinamese diplomat who has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of the Republic of Suriname since July 16, 2020. He has had a successful career in public service at the local, national, and international levels.

In 1997, Minister Ramdin served as Permanent Representative of Suriname to the Organization of American States (OAS). Later in 1999, he served as Assistant Secretary General for Foreign and Community Relations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) where he was in charge of directing CARICOM’s foreign policy and developing ties amongst its member states. During this time, Minister Ramdin oversaw CARICOM’s technical preparations for the Third Summit of the Americas and played a crucial role in advancing the core interests of the regional block.

In 2001, Minister Ramdin was appointed as an Advisor of the OAS Secretary General, with a focus on Caribbean affairs. In 2005, Minister Ramdin was elected as the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS and was re-elected in 2010. During his tenure, Minister Ramdin was able to make significant contributions to all four pillars of the Organization, most notably, organizing the first ever private sector dialogue with the Permanent Council of the OAS and the Organization’s inaugural meeting with CEOs and other private sector stakeholders from Central America and the Caribbean, among other initiatives.

After completing his second term as OAS Assistant Secretary General in 2015, he returned to his home country to contribute towards the country’s development.

Minister, it is an honor for me, as Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Chair of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, to welcome you.

The floor is yours, Sir.

El MINISTRO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES DE SURINAME: Thank you, very much and good morning to all. Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene Gilchrist, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Chair of the Permanent Council; Mr. Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS); distinguished permanent representatives; distinguished representatives of the permanent observers to the OAS; distinguished delegates; staff of the OAS Secretariat; ladies and gentlemen.

Madam Chair, I thank you for convening this special meeting of the Permanent Council to allow me to have a conversation with member states of this august multilateral institution of the Americas. I bring you greetings from His Excellency Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname, and also current Chair of the Caribbean Community, who also had a strong engagement with this Organization, as Chair of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD). The last time I addressed the Permanent Council was seven years and five days ago, when I did my farewell speech as Assistant Secretary General. I am pleased to be back and share with you some thoughts that may be relevant to include in de on-going deliberations at the OAS.

Madam Chair, Secretary General, ambassadors, we live in difficult times, we need to reflect, and then we need to act. Time is of the essence and much work needs to be done to create that inclusive world we want, that peaceful and prosperous society we all aspire to, and that natural environment that we must treat with care and need to protect and restore. There is simply no other option! The world, and so also the Western Hemisphere, is faced with many challenges and we all know them. And the origin of these challenges is only with a few, but the whole world is affected by the fall out. The raging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our societies has been devastating, both in financial-economic terms as well as socially and psychologically. The long-term impact of COVID-19 in our societies still needs to be researched and understood. In the meantime, many countries—small and large—have difficulty rebooting their economies. The supply chain costs have created scarcity and increased purchasing prices for the end user.

The ongoing and unacceptable war against Ukraine is still on-going and all we can hope for is that diplomatic demarches will at least result in a cease fire and ultimately an end to this man-made human disaster. The impact of the war is felt in all economies worldwide, with rising fuel and food prices, indirect impact on production and manufacturing, increased inflation as we witness in all countries. Especially the small and vulnerable countries feel the impact, in a climate of declining income and purchasing power.

These new global challenges, Madam Chair, come on top of the existing problems of the impact of climate change, high debt burden, economic decline, and security concerns. You and I know them all, so I will skip going into detail, but we need to be assertive and remain vigilant in raising these threats to our societies, because absence of investments, financing for development result in political instability, social unrest, poverty and ultimately migration and insecurity.

These challenges cannot be resolved by one country or one region alone and on its own. For that the inter-dependency is too strong, as we are all part of the same global trading system. Therefore, we have no other choice than to work together in a constructive manner, without excluding anyone or any country for that matter.

Madam Chair, we must learn lessons of these recent and still on-going crises. We must draw conclusions to build back better. The international order, out of which solidarity and international cooperation should have emerged when COVID-19 hit the world, was initially forgotten, and replaced by national self-interest. As we have seen during the beginning of the ongoing crises, the first response is often one of a nationalistic nature. While in some aspects such behavior is fully understandable, this response should not become policy and part of international diplomatic, financial, and economic endeavors. Those with limited resources and access to major producers and distributors of vaccines were left alone, like in the Caribbean. Today, production of vaccines and research in different region’s is being considered so as to prevent the experienced dependency.

The current international system could not prevent a war being waged against a small country. And it is regrettable that months after, we still have to continue witness the death of innocent human beings and the destruction of a nation. It is a weakness of the international order that cannot be accepted.

I strongly believe that the world needs a more inclusive and equitable multilateral framework globally and regionally, that has a mandate to act when necessary to uphold international law. Therefore, the current system and set up requires a thorough assessment with the aim to put a more effective multilateral framework in place.

As part of this review process, and based on the global agenda, I am also of the view that adopted goals and objectives must be translated in an action-oriented agenda of the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization, and the regional financial institutions.

The global financial architecture cannot be only a matter for the richer and more powerful countries. Issues like the graduation policy, the de-risking and correspondent banking issues, eligibility criteria for financial instruments, the absence of a redistribution tool for the additional Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), just to name a few, must be treated fairly and with good understanding of the impact these have on especially the small and vulnerable economies.

I am therefore pleased to note that the current chair of the G-20 group, the Republic of Indonesia, has engaged sub-regional groupings in the preparation of the G-20 summit of this year in Bali, Indonesia. I had the opportunity on the 8 of July 2022 to address some of these concerns at the G-20 Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting in Bali. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be represented by its current Chair, Suriname, at this summit in November coming.

Madame Chair, the other global challenge we face is that of climate change or more precise the climate crisis. Most of our countries have been affected in some form by the climate crisis. Over the past months Suriname has been affected by extreme high rainfall, whereby a dry season was skipped, resulting in floods in many parts of the country.

Early July 2022, Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres, paid a short visit to Suriname and visited some of the sites that were affected by climate change. He first-hand witnessed the challenges a small country with a low-lying coastal area faces when the mangrove as the natural barrier against erosion has diminished. The result is the inflow of salt water, making fertile agriculture land not suitable for agriculture production anymore. Climate change, ladies and gentlemen, will limit food production capacity and food security will become one of the major threats, together with water security.

Our realities therefore stand in stark contrast to the lofty and noble ideals, goals and commitments made globally on a regular basis. This political commitment is necessary as this is not a problem caused principally by the small and vulnerable countries. It is great that pledges are made to mobilize the earmarked resources, but the fact is that so far most of the pledges have not been delivered on and that a very small amount have been allocated to the Caribbean.

It is important to know that these resources are accessible to the affected countries. Very often it takes three to four years before resources are approved. Application procedures need to be simplified and the process must be less complicated and more efficient, otherwise all these noble goals and objectives will stand for nothing.

The implementation deficit of these global funds must be addressed urgently, and the priority must be to finance projects that have an immediate direct impact on preservation and adaptation. In many, if not most, of the cases required knowledge and executing capacity is available locally. We do not need more consultancies and studies, let us work on solving the problem on the ground.

Suriname remains committed to the agreed COP 26 goals, the preservation of our forest coverage of more than 90 percent, remain carbon negative—as one of the only three countries in the world—and the execution of our National Determined Goals, as submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). For this reality to remain as it is, internationally specific carbon credit, carbon trading and carbon financing should be established.

Suriname for example is a carbon negative country, functions as a sink for carbon emissions from other countries, produces oxygen for all in the world. We are not even compensated for that. We also must realize that the people of Suriname rightfully seek continued economic progress and higher standards of living. Therefore, a delicate balance needs to be found between environmental preservation and protection and social-economic development.

Ladies and gentlemen, we often speak about a common agenda for the world and the Sustainable Development Goals, as pronounced by the United Nations, they provide a solid basis for the future in terms of targets to be met. But a common agenda requires a common commitment and approach with effective and necessary financial instruments. In translating that global agenda of peace, prosperity, inclusivity, and equity, we must also be ready to discuss how our own inter-American system can be made more responsive.

OAS is an inter-governmental body, driven by member states, so we need to have all on board. Important values of democracy, rule of law, human rights, and independent and strong judiciary and good governance must continue to be advocated.

The OAS is the only platform where all countries in our Hemisphere are represented. This OAS has played an important role in the Americas, not only in fostering unity most of the times, but also promoting electoral processes and protecting human rights. The Americas must remain a zone of peace. Distant conflicts must not be transferred or “imported” in our Hemisphere. And this role must continue. The OAS agenda must reflect the needs and priorities of its member states. There should be special attention to small and vulnerable countries. I believe that the political debate should feature some of the earlier mentioned issues high on the agenda of the region we belong to: The proposed multidimensional vulnerability index as proposed by CARICOM, financing for development, climate financing, etc. In fact, I would expect the OAS to take the lead on this and call for attention internationally.

As the principal hemispheric Organization, we also have to carry out our responsibilities in support of countries and peoples in need. Domestic political and social-economic challenges, upon request of the respective country, must be addressed through diplomatic engagement and mobilization of all the other parts of the inter-American system, like the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Inter American Institute for Cooperation and Agriculture (IICA).

Among others, our sister nation the Republic of Haiti comes to mind. Haiti’s problems are multifaceted and are taking place in the same geographic space at the same time. From a governance perspective not an easy task to address. Haiti as member of the international community must be supported, on their terms, and on the basis of a Haitian initiated and owned plan. That is the best basis for success on the long term.

I had the honor to recently chair the fourth International Haiti Partners Meeting and also to be involved in the discussions on Haiti’s current challenges in CARICOM at Heads of Government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs level. At all these meetings, Haiti was well represented at high levels.

I believe we all look forward to the completion of the investigation in the heinous assassination of President Jovenel Moise and bringing the perpetrators to justice. The most urgent and critical challenge to the Haitian people and the state is the deteriorating security situation, caused by the threats posed by the several gangs operating in Port au Prince and surrounding areas. The impact of this unfavorable security environment and the threats towards the judiciary add to the complexity of the existing situation.

The on-going dialogue among the political stakeholders must continue to facilitate consensus on the way forward. Part of this consensus must be the roadmap towards elections, including the formation of a legitimate Provisional Electoral Council and approval of the electoral calendar. The emerging humanitarian crisis in Port au Prince and other regions requires the attention of the international and regional community.

I am pleased to see that, albeit with some delay, that the term of the BINUH mandate has been extended by the full United Nations Security Council. I believe this is important to be able to support the process, while we may have to start thinking not only about a term extension, but also a broadening of the mandate.

I believe that the discussions in the International Haiti Partners Meeting, with strong, visible, and dedicated CARICOM support, could potentially form a basis of increased and intensified support to the Republic of Haiti, especially in the area of security and governance. CARICOM leaders have mandated a political mission soon to take place depending on the security environment, consisting of prominent persons and high-level government ministers to visit Haiti and assess the assistance required.

More engagement with Haiti is important. For a successful outcome there must also be a coherent approach regionally and internationally. In this regard, the OAS member states may wish to consider re-establishing the Group of Friends on Haiti, so that a more measured and consistent support, with regular updates, can be developed. The OAS must play its role in terms of security assistance and electoral process.

Madam Chair, Secretary General, distinguished ambassadors, initially and ultimately, the solution must be a Haitian one, owned by the key stakeholders of Haiti. Haiti’s committed partners in the international community, including the Caribbean Community, can only assist on the basis of a plan from Haiti’s current leadership.

Ladies and Gentlemen, despite all the challenges we face as a Hemisphere, the horizon is bright if we do the right thing. The growth potential in our own Hemisphere is promising. However, we will not be able to capitalize this opportunity if political instability, border and other kinds of conflicts and insecurity remains. These will prevent the region to attract the necessary investments, expertise, and export markets.

Newfound oil and gas resources in Suriname and Guyana, possibly also French Guiana, Grenada, and Barbados as well, with other existing players as Trinidad and Tobago, will provide new avenues for sustainable economic development and wealth creation. These revenues will form the basis for the transition of our economy from a primarily carbon-based production system to a green economy by 2060. In fact, the transition process has already started in Suriname with phasing out the carbon-based energy generation. In the meantime, Suriname is committed to an environmentally friendly commercial exploitation of its natural resources, in compliance with international standards. These major economic prospects, taking into account the de-risking on energy supply in other parts of the world, may change the face of the integration process in the Americas and in the sub-regions. We should be prepared to engage in that strategic repositioning process and be ready to accept and adjust our policies.

Madam Chair, Secretary General, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on the heels of the recently held Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, we must not lose momentum. Suriname, as the current Chair of the Caribbean Community, will utilize every opportunity in the coming months, including the OAS Fifty-second regular session of the General Assembly in Lima, Peru, the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, and the COP 27 global gathering in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt to voice its and the region’s views on the critical matters, which I addressed before.

In closing, Madam Chair, we must be clear that if we really want to improve the lives of the peoples of this Hemisphere, we need to go back to the original purpose of this Organization and that is to work towards peace and prosperity for all in the Americas through a process of engagement and inclusivity. We may want to review, re-think, and redesign the inter-American institutional framework into a new multilateral system that is more effective in addressing the existing developmental needs and current political issues in the Hemisphere through a process of inclusion, support to countries in need, and build a peaceful society as a whole, with recognition of the cultural and political diversity the Americas represent.

And as we are all linked through history, political alliances, and a common goal, we must strengthen the OAS as a leading institution in the Western Hemisphere to facilitate and direct this process. Ultimately, Madam Chair, distinguished ambassadors, it is the countries and their political leadership that will determine the future of this Americas and the future of all of us.

I thank you kindly for your attention.

La PRESIDENTA: Minister, I thank you very much for your enlightening presentation.

- Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros

La PRESIDENTA: I would now like to offer the floor to those delegations that wish to make any comments.

I am pleased to offer the floor to the Ambassador of Dominican Republic.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA: Muchas gracias, señora Presidenta. Es para mí un honor tomar la palabra en nombre de Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras y Panamá, países miembros del Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA) para saludar y dar la más cordial bienvenida a esta Casa de las Américas al Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Asuntos Internacionales y Cooperación Internacional de Suriname, señor Albert Ramdin. Asimismo, expresamos nuestra satisfacción a la Presidencia por la convocatoria de esta sesión extraordinaria del Consejo Permanente.

Señor Canciller Albert Ramdin, agradecemos su presentación sobre las perspectivas caribeñas del sistema interamericano. El Grupo Regional SICA ha tomado nota de lo aquí expresado y aprovecha la ocasión para reconocer el compromiso que su país ha anunciado en respaldar que la región continúe siendo una de paz donde cada vez exista mayor unidad. De igual manera, recibimos con complacencia el interés de profundizar los lazos de cooperación interregional en América. Desde el Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana, estamos prestos a continuar el trabajo conjunto con el Caribe y reafirmamos nuestro compromiso de avanzar en una agenda común. Su lectura acerca de la imperiosa necesidad de acelerar los procesos de cooperación en materia económica, de seguridad para el movimiento de bienes, mercancías y personas y expandir la conectividad es una que todos vemos con simpatía.

Señor Ministro, como ustedes vienen apuntando en diversos foros, la mayoría en este Salón comparte intereses y necesidades, pero también amenazas, en especial el calentamiento global y el cambio climático, que traen patrones cambiantes del clima, lo que provoca desplazamientos masivos de población, traen destrucción de propiedad y evidencian cada vez nuestras vulnerabilidades. Ninguno de estos problemas los podemos atender de manera individual, requieren de acción colectiva y coordinada, tal como usted lo ha expuesto aquí. Además, más vigente que nunca, es el desafío de la seguridad alimentaria. Las dificultades que genera la inflación y la poca disponibilidad de acceso a financiamientos para mitigación y adaptación ante desastres naturales en un contexto donde la guerra en Europa nos arropa de incertidumbres. Nuestra región conjuga todo el potencial necesario para estratégicamente y de manera colectiva, usar los recursos naturales y el capital humano para un desarrollo efectivo. Como ha referido el Presidente Chan Santokhi a principios de este mes de julio, nos hace falta un enfoque creativo, asumir la cultura de la innovación, crear más espacios para asociaciones público-privadas y ceder cada vez más responsabilidades y oportunidades a nuestra juventud. Un efectivo sistema de diplomacia multilateral es un eslabón fundamental para articular todo aquello que hemos mencionado en este Hemisferio. Sin dudas que hace falta acción ahora. Su presencia aquí en la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) es testimonio del reconocimiento y el valor que tiene este espacio para esos fines.

Muchas gracias, señora Presidenta.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you very much, Ambassador.

Representatives of Canada and other countries, I am asking you to give way to the Permanent Representative of Haiti as he requested the floor earlier but had experienced technical difficulties.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Ambassador, you have the floor.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE HAITI: Thank you, Chair.

Madame la Présidente, permettez-moi de souhaiter la bienvenue à Son Excellence Albert Ramdin, Ministre des affaires étrangères, du commerce international et de la coopération internationale du Suriname, qui se retrouve une fois de plus chez lui, dans cette prestigieuse Salle des Amériques à l’Organisation des États Américains (OEA). Je le remercie pour son exposé où il a présenté, entre autres, les perspectives des Caraïbes au sein du système interaméricain et l’intérêt pour la CARICOM, dont le Suriname occupe la présidence, pour Haïti et les problèmes auxquels elle est confrontée.

Madame la Présidente, en matière de sécurité, Haïti n’est pas exempte du phénomène du grand banditisme commun à beaucoup de pays de la région. En effet, mon pays connait une situation sécuritaire particulièrement complexe. Les gangs armés représentent un défi de taille pour les forces de sécurité et pour la population. Le phénomène du kidnapping continue d’appauvrir les familles. Les gangs sont lourdement armés et défient chaque jour l’autorité de l’État. Aucune force de police, y compris la nôtre, ne saurait faire face à elle seule à ce genre de banditisme. C’est la paix et la sécurité qu’il s’avère difficile de retrouver la stabilité nécessaire pour construire nos institutions et notre économie. Le gouvernement est à la recherche d’équipement et de la formation adaptés au profit de la Police Nationale d’Haïti.

Madame la Présidente, Port-au-Prince a connu des journées de tension la semaine dernière, face à la pénurie de carburant causée par l’action des gangs armés bloquant l’accès à la plus grande centrale de distribution de carburant. Le gouvernement a fait de son mieux pour redresser la situation et depuis jeudi dernier cette centrale a recommencé à alimenter le marché. Des saisies d’armes et de munitions ont eu lieu dans la ville de Port-de-Paix et plus récemment à Port-au-Prince par la police et les agents douaniers. La découverte d’armes de guerre, de cartouches à profusion et de chargeurs ont fait l’actualité la semaine dernière. Toutefois, malgré ces saisies d’armes et de munitions, le problème de l’insécurité est très loin d’être résolu. Compte tenu de la gravité de la situation dans le pays, le Conseil de sécurité de l’Organisation des Nations Unies (ONU) a décidé de prolonger jusqu’au 15 juillet 2023 le mandat du Bureau intégré des Nations Unies en Haïti (BINUH). À l'initiative du Premier Ministre, Son Excellence le docteur Ariel Henry, dans le but de poursuivre les négociations avec tous les secteurs, des rencontres se sont déroulées le jeudi 14 et le vendredi 15 juillet 2022, entre les représentants de l’Accord de Montana et alliés et ceux de l’Accord du 11 septembre. Les parties concertées se sont entendues pour continuer de dialoguer.

Au niveau de l’OEA, beaucoup d'initiatives ont été également prises. Le 8 juillet 2022, le Représentant spécial de l’OEA en Haïti et le Ministre des affaires étrangères Jean Victor Geneus ont signé un protocole d’accord de coopération entre l’OEA et le Gouvernement pour le renforcement de la Police Nationale d’Haïti. Je remercie le Secrétaire général de l’OEA pour l’engagement de l’Organisation en Haïti.

Permettez-moi, Madame la Présidente, de remercier la Communauté des Caraïbes (CARICOM) pour son leadership sur le dossier d’Haïti. Les défis d’Haïti sont énormes et certes complexes, mais ils sont surmontables avec le soutien et l’appui de nos partenaires de l’international. En tant que nation, nous sommes conscients que nous devons être les principaux artisans de la solution à nos problèmes. Toutefois, nous avons grand besoin du soutien de nos partenaires, en particulier de la CARICOM, pour y arriver. La CARICOM a endossé une responsabilité colossale envers Haïti à un moment crucial de l’histoire du pays. Nous devons trouver la bonne synergie pour profiter des compétences et de l’expérience de notre sous-région pour que de concert avec des autres autorités de mon pays, nous arrivions à combler les attentes de la population.

Merci de votre attention.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you, Ambassador Charles.

I am now pleased to offer the floor to Ambassador Hugh Adsset of Canada. Thank you once again.

The floor is yours, Sir.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DEL CANADÁ: Thank you. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Good morning, colleagues; a pleasure to see you all.

Minister Ramdin, let me start by, on behalf of Canada, joining with other delegations and extending to you a very warm welcome or a welcome back to this Permanent Council. Let me thank you also for sharing the perspectives of your government with us today.

I would also like to take this opportunity to extend our congratulations on the recent successful Forty-third regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and also for the robust communicate that came from that meeting as well.

From our perspective, Canada is very much eager to work with Suriname, both as CARICOM Chair and also within this Organization, to advance shared priorities. You have mentioned some of them this morning. They include recovery from COVID-19, climate resilience, food security, and stability in the Hemisphere. We are also looking forward to collaborating with your country and CARICOM on the implementation of summit commitments.

Chair and Minister Ramdin, let me finish with a couple of comments that reflect what was just raised a few minutes ago. Let me begin by thanking Suriname for chairing the Fourth Ministerial Level Meeting on Haiti on July 8 of 2022. That is an example of the way in which, diplomatic initiatives that are carried out together can help to build support for actions. And it was mentioned just a few moments ago as well, such as the recent United Nations (UN) Security Council decision to renew the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, well known to colleagues as BINUH, and also a way to build support for further coordinated actions. We took very good notes of the suggestions that you had made this morning as well, and also the comments from our colleagues, distinguished Permanent Representative of Haiti about ways that we might continue to work together to support efforts in that country and to work together on those issues.

Thank you very much for raising those matters this morning.

Thank you.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you, Ambassador.

I now offer the floor to the Permanent Representative of Mexico. Excellency, the floor is yours.

La REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE MÉXICO: Gracias, señora Presidenta.

México saluda la presencia del Canciller Albert Ramdin en esta sesión extraordinaria del Consejo Permanente. Su amplio conocimiento de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) y sus retos, es muy valioso y es bienvenido en un escenario complejo y desafiante que exige a nuestros países cambios sustantivos para asumir con mayor compromiso y eficiencia nuestras responsabilidades.

Las virtudes del multilateralismo son obvias y apreciadas, pero junto a ellas también persisten retos que a menudo lo hacen poco relevante para mejorar la vida concreta de las personas. Por ejemplo, los altos costos y los plazos extendidos de su actuación. Estos dos elementos, entre otros, prácticamente impiden dar resultados en situaciones de emergencia relativas a los pilares de desarrollo integral y de seguridad multidimensional, pero este patrón se repite también en el resto de las áreas. Las lecciones aprendidas de estos dos años y la situación financiera que padecemos, además del clima político que prevalece, nos deben obligar a refundar la Organización bajo los principios de su Carta de creación, que son vinculantes y no optativos para los Estados Miembros y de acuerdo con una redefinición de prioridades del multilateralismo que atienda las necesidades urgentes de las personas.

México cree firmemente y trabaja de manera responsable para lograr un multilateralismo que beneficie a las personas y que honre los principios bajo los que constituimos la OEA. Señor Canciller, reiteró el compromiso de México de seguir trabajando para concretar los objetivos comunes que compartimos con su país, con la Comunidad del Caribe (CARICOM) y con el resto de la membresía, desde la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CELAC), la OEA, la Asociación de Estados del Caribe (AEC) y todos los demás espacios multilaterales que compartimos.

Gracias, señora Presidenta.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you very much, Excellency.

I am now pleased to offer the floor to the Permanent Representative of Uruguay. Excellency, the floor is yours.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DEL URUGUAY: Señor Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, en mi calidad de Coordinador del Grupo Sur, integrado por el Uruguay, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Perú, Brasil, Paraguay, Chile y Venezuela, quiero hacerles llegar nuestra identificación con sus palabras.

Seguramente algunos de mis colegas harán uso, pero nosotros como grupo sentimos la vocación y la necesidad de hacerle estas manifestaciones expresas. En lo personal lo tengo estudiado, señor Ministro, desde hace un tiempo; lo vengo admirando en su gestión, tanto por sus exposiciones en Costa Rica, como en otras y en esta actividad uno aprende a leer entre líneas, no sólo lo que se dice, sino lo que con sutileza se apuntala, se jerarquiza, se procura direccionar o en algún sentido privilegiar.

Yo entiendo muy bien como pequeño país cuando usted está hablando de lo que está hablando. Vaya si lo sé. Sé lo que es la adversidad de estar en regiones en donde no siempre los pequeños países tenemos todas las posibilidades en términos de igualdad. Así que cuando usted se refiere a cooperación o estabilidad, está muy bien lo que decía República Dominicana y está muy inteligente el aporte que hacía México hace pocos minutos en términos de la diplomacia, qué puede hacer, cuánto puede hacer y cuánto puede no hacer; y a veces es mucho más lo que se evita y no se advierte y tiene un gran contenido que aquello que se puede ver en términos de visibilidad mediática.

Usted habla de cambio climático. Vaya si tiene razón. Estamos viviendo en el planeta temperaturas que no habíamos visto hace mucho tiempo y en otros continentes está pasando lo increíble. ¡Están fuera de registros! Están fuera de registros! Nosotros, en nuestra América, en toda nuestra América, vaya si conocemos lo que es esto.

Así que su sensibilidad, señor Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Suriname, es nuestra sensibilidad, su percepción es nuestra percepción. Sepa usted que necesitamos de su contribución para para generarnos una reflexión que tenga la profundidad de la hora para ir hacia territorios en donde los niveles de consenso sean lo principal. Hay que entender siempre cuando hay temas que tienen sensibilidad para todos y para uno, para uno y para todos y se deben respetar siempre esos temas. Los países cuando levantan su voz lo hacen con un sentido de propiedad y todos debemos tener el respeto para con eso.

Gracias, señor Ministro.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you, Excellency.

I am now pleased to offer the floor to Sir Ronald Sanders, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda. The floor is yours, Sir.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE ANTIGUA Y BARBUDA: Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, may I join the other speakers, including yourself, in the warm welcome which has been given this morning to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Ramdin of Suriname and of course, of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

As everybody pointed out before, he is no stranger to this Hall of the Americas, and he is not a stranger to many of us who have worked with him over the years and who understand the quality of his intellect and the capacity he has for bringing practical solutions to real problems. Those of us who listened to him clearly today recognized that what he set up was an agenda which could be an agenda for each of our countries and indeed for all of us collectively.

On the matter of COVID-19, which he raised pointing out that COVID-19 has not disappeared even though it has wrecked many of our economies and continues to do so now with the continuing effects on the supply chain which has pushed up the cost of food and also the cost of living in all of our countries; a situation which has been exacerbated by the Russian unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

I have to say that the reason I am not physically present at the special meeting this morning is precisely because a member of my staff contracted COVID-19 last week and out of an abundance of caution, until the rest of us are assured that we are either negative or positive, I did not want to risk coming to the Permanent Council this morning. In the event that I may have been infectious, I do not think I am, but in the event that I might have been infectious, I did not want to pass anything on to anyone else. That is the single reason why I am not there personally to welcome Minister Ramdin.

Now, Minister Ramdin talked about the need for a more fair and equitable international system, including of the financial architecture. This is a point which every Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country and indeed countries in Central America, smaller countries in South America would also agree. The time has now come for all our voices to be heard if the system is to become more equitable, fairer, and more just. He talked to about the situation in Haiti and did so with a particular perspective of the events that are taking place in that country against a historical background and the role of the United Nations (UN) in all that is taking place there.

There is no question that the matter of Haiti is urgent. There is also no question that the solution to the Haitian problem must come from within Haiti itself. We, the rest of the international community, can be helpful to Haiti, we wish to be helpful to Haiti, but the Haitian actors must also get their act together in providing us with a unified, agreed response to where they see their country going. They can provide that. I have no doubt that the international community will be helpful, but as has been pointed out by major countries in the United Nations Security Council, Haiti has a problem of gangs, and the problem of gangs has to be solved. It will not be solved by the Haitian forces alone. Other countries have to be helpful to Haiti in bringing the gang warfare under control. It is almost difficult to imagine how Haiti can proceed as a normal country, to hold elections in a normal way, and to ensure that the candidates that are put up for the National Assembly of Haiti are not people who themselves come from criminal gangs. To ensure all of this, that is, to ensure the future of Haiti, we all have an obligation to act.

Now, one of the things that Minister Ramdin suggested today was the recreation, the resuscitation of the Friends of Haiti within the Organization of American States. I wish to associate my own delegation with that call. It is necessary that the OAS take a more active interest in what is happening in Haiti, and not only some of the members of the OAS, but all of the member states. After all, our Charter obliges us to do precisely that.

I will not carry much longer in my remarks of welcome to Minister Ramdin, except to say that I think once again that he has laid out an impressive agenda for all of us to think about. He pointed out, of course, that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the common agenda is itself a blueprint for where we should be going, but he stressed that we cannot have a common agenda without a common commitment. We cannot continue to pay lip service. We cannot continue to speak without acting. If not, the consequences of all of that will be increased poverty, increased crime, increased organized crime, including drug trafficking and guns trafficking, leading to migration, more irregular migration, and more refugees. There is a consequence in all of this for all of us.

I thank the Minister Ramdin for bringing all of this to our attention this morning.

Thank you.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you, Excellency.

I am now pleased to offer the floor to the Interim Representative of the United States. You have the floor, Sir.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS: Thank you, Madam Chair. The United States thanks His Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Ramdin forward his presentation today and welcome you back to the Organization of American States (OAS). We take note of your presentation and thank you for coming here today to lay out the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) priorities for the inter-American system and the OAS.

As you know, coming out of the Summit of the Americas, the United States is committed to our partnership with CARICOM, both individually, with each CARICOM member state, and multilaterally within the OAS. We are working with our CARICOM partners to make substantial progress on issues like food and energy security, and we look forward to continuing dialogue on these important issues as well as others raised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Again, thank you very much for your presence and your presentation.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you very much, United States.

I am now pleased to offer the floor to the delegate of Brazil. You have the floor.

El REPRESENTANTE ALTERNO DEL BRASIL: Muito obrigado, Senhora Presidente.

Gostaria, inicialmente, de agradecer à Presidente deste Conselho Permanente a convocação desta sessão. Permitam-me registrar o especial agradecimento de minha delegação ao Chanceler Albert Ramdin pela apresentação abrangente e substantiva que acaba de fazer. O Suriname, assim como o Brasil, tem atuação destacada nos quatro pilares em que se organizam as atividades da Organização dos Estados Americanos (OEA). Faço votos de que possamos continuar atuando conjuntamente em prol dos objetivos da OEA.

O Brasil congratula-se com o Suriname pela sua função neste semestre da Conferência e da Presidência da Comunidade do Caribe (CARICOM) e pela bem-sucedida realização da Cúpula da CARICOM em Paramaribo de 3 a 5 de julho de 2022. O Governo brasileiro acompanhou com interesse as discussões da Cúpula e coincide com preocupações manifestadas pelo Presidente Chandrikapersad Santokhi na ocasião, em particular no que se refere à necessidade de renovar esforços de cooperação em prol do desenvolvimento sustentável e da prosperidade em benefício dos povos da região.

Como países vizinhos, Brasil e Suriname são naturalmente parceiros e compartilham a ampla agenda de interesses estratégicos para ambos os países. A ausência de comunicação física entre as fronteiras não constituiu um obstáculo para que, ao longo dos anos, fossem construídos fortes vínculos de amizade e de sólida agenda de cooperação. A presença da visita do Presidente Jair Bolsonaro em Paramaribo em 20 de janeiro de 2022 abriu caminho para avanços nos principais temas da relação bilateral em áreas como comércio e investimentos, agricultura, energia, segurança e defesa, infraestrutura e cooperação técnica e humanitária. Foi a primeira viagem de um mandatário brasileiro ao país nos últimos nove anos e a primeira ida de um chefe de Estado brasileiro ao Suriname em caráter estritamente bilateral, desassociado da CARICOM ou de outros fóruns multilaterais desde os anos 1980. A cooperação energética teve destaque nas conversações mantidas em Paramaribo à luz das descobertas de jazidas de petróleo e gás no Suriname que deverão dar impulso ao crescimento econômico do país. Na ocasião, o Senhor Presidente da República Jair Bolsonaro manifestou ao Presidente Chandrikapersad Santokhi a disposição brasileira de compartilhar a experiência no setor e ajudar a viabilizar esse horizonte de prosperidade. Compromissos e linhas de ação nessa e em outras matérias foram refletidas na Declaração Conjunta Presidencial adotada ao final da visita.

Desde o encontro presidencial, registraram-se desdobramentos significativos em diferentes áreas. Destacam-se a ida de missão da APEX Brasil a Paramaribo com o objetivo de compartilhar a experiência brasileira e colaborar na criação da Agência Surinamesa de Promoção Comercial e Atração de Investimentos; a organização, também pela APEX Brasil, do seminário virtual “Desafios do Setor de Petróleo e Gás no Suriname”, que contou com a participação de mais de 160 representantes de empresas brasileiras e surinamesas; e o diálogo entre autoridades agrícolas sobre a habilitação de estabelecimentos para exportação de produtos de origem animal.

Entre os demais temas prioritários na agenda bilateral, merece registro o longo histórico de cooperação em defesa, tendo como principais vetores a capacitação de recursos humanos e o desenvolvimento de doutrina militar. Na área de segurança, aprofundam-se os esforços de diálogo e de cooperação no enfrentamento de desafios comuns, principalmente o combate aos ilícitos transnacionais. O Brasil teve paricipação ativa na Conferência de Alto Nível de Segurança ocorrida em abril de 2022 em Paramaribo, ao passo que o Ministro de Justiça e Polícia do Suriname, Kenneth Amoksi, chefiou a delegação surinamesa na Primeira Reunião Ministerial contra o Crime Transnacional na América do Sul, realizada em junho de 2022 em Brasília.

O Brasil mantém com o Suriname seu maior programa de cooperação técnica nas Américas, atualmente composto por doze projetos. Em face das recentes enchentes que afetaram o país vizinho, foi feita a oferta por meio da Agência Brasileira de Cooperação (ABC) de doação de purificadores de água e de vacinas ao Governo surinamês em caráter de cooperação humanitária. Atendendo ao pedido surinamês, o Governo brasileiro tem compartilhado, desde o início de junho, dados meteorológicos com o objetivo de colaborar na gestão da usina hidrelétrica de Afobaka.

Senhora Presidente, essa ampla pauta bilateral é acompanhada por crescentes sintonias de posições entre os dois países sobre temas hemisféricos e regionais em defesa de valores compartilhados, como a democracia, o Estado de Direito e a liberdade individual.

Muito obrigado, Senhora Presidente.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you very much, Brazil.

I am now pleased to offer the floor to the Secretary General.

Secretary General, the floor is yours, Sir.

El SECRETARIO GENERAL: Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Ramdin, let me take this opportunity to congratulate you because of your speech that was very deep in orientation and substance. Also, to congratulate you on your second anniversary of your appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and for your steadfast commitment to enhancing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) foreign policy and regional integration between member states.

I congratulate the Government of Suriname for the successful hosting and chairing of the recently held Forty-third regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM earlier this month in Paramaribo.

Notably, Suriname was the first country in the Hemisphere to have invited the Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) in the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. That Mission, led by Gonzalo Koncke, required an innovative approach, and paved the way for other OAS Electoral Observation Missions under unprecedented circumstances during the pandemic. I wish to echo Minister Ramdin’s statement at the fifth meeting of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean held in Costa Rica in March of this year, where he said Suriname reforms the urgency for a coordinated, holistic, integrated and people-centered response for sustainable development, leaving no one behind. I add my voice to the many who have recognized Suriname leadership on biodiversity and conservation.

Suriname is one of only three countries globally to be classified as carbon negative, which means that it absorbs more greenhouse gases than it emits from human activities. According to the United Nations (UN), Suriname was the second country in the world to update its national plan to fight climate change, doing its part to ensure that the future temperature of the planet does not exceed 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels. The OAS will continue to support members data share policies, programs, and partnerships to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. In February this year, the OAS convened the meeting of Ministers of Energy of the region and the private sector within the context of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas to continue our work on renewable energy transition.

Peace and stability are imperative for the survival and progress of our democracy so that our people are empowered without distinction as to race, nationality, creed, or sex. On this Mandela day, I make a call to all member states to ratify the Inter-American Convention Against Racist, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance and the InterAmerican Convention Against All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance. A healthy and highly principled democracy will allow these opportunities of our people to flourish.

The well-being of our people and all the peoples of the world who suffer under human circumstances require us to demonstrate that injustice will not be tolerated and courageous, and that there must be more rights for more people.

Thank you and welcome again, Mr. Ramdin.

La PRESIDENTA: I thank the delegations and the Secretary General for their comments.

I am now pleased to offer the floor once again to Minister Ramdin. The floor is yours, Sir.

El MINISTRO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES DE SURINAME: Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Let me start in a quick response and I will try to be as brief as I can. Thank all of you for your remarks, your observations, and also for your kind words. I am pleased to be back. Secretary General, thank you very much for the hospitality; Madam Chair, also for convening this special meeting.

I just wanted to respond with a couple of points which came to me when listening to the member states. First of all, I think the point was made by, I believe, Dominican Republic. A coordinated approach is critical, but also an integrated approach; and with integration, I mean, we have sub regional organizations in the Hemisphere. Every regional geographic region has its own: the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Central American Integration System (SICA), South America, Canada, United States and Mexico together. I think it is important that these organizations meet as well and exchange views at an organizational level not only in terms of the politics of the Hemisphere, but in terms of collaboration in other fields: Food, energy, agriculture, water.

I read this morning that certain areas in Mexico have no water, while in Suriname there is an abundance in water simply because it rains a lot. I mean, these things will happen. So, unless we work together, we will not be able to solve these issues. That is the first point I would like to make: More intra and interregional cooperation in the Hemisphere; that makes a strong hemispheric multilateral system. And of course, this is the platform where all those views will come.

The other one is when we want to be inclusive. It is not only inclusiveness in terms of between the countries, but also inclusivity within our countries. We spoke about youth, NGOs and others that need to be involved because governments alone cannot bring development. We by now know that. So, we need to involve all in society to be part of the developmental process and to get unity and degree of going in one direction together.

The third one I would like to leave behind is differences will always be there because every region is different. Every region has different priorities. We can make that list very simply, what is relevant in CARICOM may not be relevant to South America. It does not mean that it is less important, but it should not be an obstacle to be excluded. So, countries have problems, but we should engage to solve problems, a result-oriented approach rather than isolate those who know me. I am never in favor of exclusionary approaches because I think the impact of that will be counterproductive and will take us further from home, further from where we want to be. Then it helps. In some cases, it works, in most of the cases it does not.

Then, I think it is important to also indicate and this is my last point, Madam Chair, why do we have a multilateral system and why this multilateral system is growing in importance, and it is becoming more necessary to have everybody around the table? for the simple reason that most of our problems, the majority of our problems as a country across border in nature, we need each other to work towards a solution. Alone we are not going to be able to do that. So, when 60 percent of your problems are cross border in nature, it requires us to work together. There is no other option. Otherwise, we are fooling ourselves. So, we need to make sure that the agenda is set in such a way that the multilateral system, which we are looking for, I speak often about a new multilateral system 2.0 simply because it has to be modernized and recognized that we live in a different age than what this Organization was established, although the core purpose has not changed: Peace, prosperity, and stability. So, with that, I want to thank you all for the opportunity. I am happy to be here, and I am happy to engage with you. I welcome you to Suriname and to the Caribbean. I think now we are able to travel a little bit more again, but feel free to come to Suriname and we can continue this.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you very much to the delegations for their comments.

Minister, allow me, on behalf of the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council, to express once again our sincerest appreciation to you for your presence and remarks this morning.

I would like to remind the distinguished delegations that the minutes of this special meeting will include the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ presentation.

There being no further business to consider, I thank you all for your attendance.

The meeting is adjourned.

Adjourned!

[Se levanta la sesión a las 11:18 a.m.]

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