OEA - Documento ACTAS-S C 22 25 de 2025

ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS OEA/Ser.G CONSEJO PERMANENTE CP/ACTA 2428/23 (Transcripción) 12 mayo 2023

TRANSCRIPCIÓN DEL ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA

DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA

ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

CELEBRADA EL 12 DE MAYO DE 2023

Se ruega a las misiones permanentes enviar a la Secretaría, Unidad de Servicios Editoriales, al correo electrónico jmontes@oas.org, o a la Oficina ADM 134 del Edificio Administrativo, dentro del plazo de cinco (5) días laborales a partir del 3 de diciembre de 2025, las correcciones de forma que consideren necesarias. El acta así corregida será sometida a la aprobación del Consejo Permanente y constituirá la versión final.iii

ÍNDICE

Página

Nómina de los miembros que asistieron a la sesión ..................................................................................1

Aprobación del proyecto de orden del día ................................................................................................2

Consideración del proyecto de resolución “Apropiación extraordinaria para cubrir gastos relacionados con la celebración del quincuagésimo tercer período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General” ....................................................................................................2 [Aprobación del proyecto de resolución] .........................................................................................4

Consideración del nivel presupuestario global y del tope presupuestarios del programaPresupuesto de la Organización para 2024 .........................................................................................4

ANEXO

Resolución aprobada:

Consideración del nivel presupuestario global y del tope presupuestarios del programaPresupuesto de la Organización para 2024 .........................................................................................4

ANEXO

Resolución aprobada:

CP/RES. 1223 (2428/23), Apropiación extraordinaria para cubrir gastos relacionados con la celebración del quincuagésimo tercer período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General ............................................................................................................................... 17iv

DOCUMENTOS CONSIDERADOS EN LA SESIÓN

(SE PUBLICAN POR SEPARADO)

CP/CAAP-3903/23 rev. 2 , Proyecto de resolución “Apropiación extraordinaria para cubrir gastos relacionados con la celebración del quincuagésimo tercer período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General” (Acordado por la Comisión en su sesión celebrada el 11 de mayo de 2023 – ad-referéndum de las Delegaciones de Colombia y México, y elevado a la consideración del Consejo Permanente).

CP/INF. 9745/23, Nota del Representante Permanente de las Bahamas y Presidente de la Comisión de Asuntos Administrativos y Presupuestarios mediante la que solicita que se convoque una sesión extraordinaria del Consejo Permanente para las 11:00 a. m. del viernes, 12 de ma yo de 2023, con el propósito de considerar y aprobar el nivel global presupuestario y tope presupuestario para el programa-presupuesto de la Organización para 2024.CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN ORDINARIA

CELEBRADA EL 12 DE MAYO DE 2023

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las diez y treinta y ocho de la mañana del viernes 12 de mayo

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN ORDINARIA

CELEBRADA EL 12 DE MAYO DE 2023

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las diez y treinta y ocho de la mañana del viernes 12 de mayo de 2023, celebró sesión extraordinaria el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados Americanos para considerar temas presupuestarios y administrativos de carácter urgente. Presidió la sesión el Embajador Washington Abdala, Representante Permanente del Uruguay y Presidente del Consejo Permanente. Asistieron los siguientes miembros:

Embajador Ronald Sanders, Representante Permanente de Antigua y Barbuda Embajador Anthony Phillips-Spencer, Representante Permanente de Trinidad y Tobago Embajador Noel Anderson Lynch, Representante Permanente de Barbados Embajadora Yolande Yvonne Smith, Representante Permanente de Grenada Embajadora Luz Elena Baños Rivas, Representante Permanente de México Embajador Josué Antinoe Fiallo Billini, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana Embajador Carlos Alberto Raimundi, Representante Permanente de la Argentina Embajadora Alejandra Solano Cabalceta, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica Embajador Héctor Enrique Arce Zaconeta, Representante Permanente de Bolivia Embajador Lynn Raymond Young, Representante Permanente de Belize Embajador Samuel Hinds, Representante Permanente de Guyana Embajador Agustín Vásquez Gómez, Representante Permanente de El Salvador Embajador Leon Charles, Representante Permanente de Haití Embajador Otávio Brandelli, Representante Permanente del Brasil Embajador Chet Donovan Neymour, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas Embajador Jan Marten Willem Schalkwijk, Representante Permanente de Suriname

Embajador Otávio Brandelli, Representante Permanente del Brasil Embajador Chet Donovan Neymour, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas Embajador Jan Marten Willem Schalkwijk, Representante Permanente de Suriname Embajador Mauricio Montalvo Samaniego, Representante Permanente del Ecuador Embajador Carlos Roberto Quesada López, Representante Permanente de Honduras Embajador Sebastián Kraljevich Chadwick, Representante Permanente de Chile Embajador Gustavo Adrianzén, Representante Permanente del Perú Ministro Raúl Mariano Martínez Villalba, Representante Interino del Paraguay Primera Secretaria Judith-Anne Rolle, Representante Interina del Commonwealth de Dominica Consejera Sonia Rosita Boddie-Thompson, Representante Interina de Saint Kitts y Nevis Ministro Consejero Omari Seitu Williams, Representante Alterno de San Vicente y las Granadinas Ministra Adriana Maldonado Ruíz, Representante Alterna de Colombia Ministro Fernando Gustavo Sotelo Vitelio, Representante Alterno del Uruguay Primera Secretaria Mary Alexandra White, Representante Alterna del Canadá Ministro Aurimar Jacobino de Barros Nunes, Representante Alterno del Brasil Embajadora María Fernanda Cortizo Frías, Representante Alterna de Panamá Señor Thomas R. Hastings, Representante Alterno de los Estados Unidos Ministra Nicholette Erane Simoni Williams, Representante Alterna de Jamaica Ministro Consejero Gonzalo Mauricio Vásquez Orozco, Representante Alterno de Guatemala Señora Nisha Niketa Paul, Agregada, Misión Permanente de Santa Lucía

También estuvieron presentes el Secretario General, señor Luis Almagro Lemes, y el Secretario General Adjunto, Embajador Nestor Mendez, Secretario del Consejo Permanente.- 2También estuvieron presentes el Secretario General, señor Luis Almagro Lemes, y el Secretario General Adjunto, Embajador Nestor Mendez, Secretario del Consejo Permanente.- 2El PRESIDENTE: Buenos días, verificado el cuórum, declaro abierta la sesión extraordinaria del Consejo Permanente que ha sido convocada con el fin de considerar los temas de carácter urgente de la Comisión de Asuntos Administrativos y Presupuestarios (CAAP).

APROBACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE ORDEN DEL DÍA

El PRESIDENTE: Estimados colegas, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en el artículo 43 del Reglamento del Consejo Permanente, someto a la consideración del Consejo Permanente el proyecto del orden del día contenido en el documento CP/OD-2428/23.

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

1. Aprobación del orden del día

2. Consideración del proyecto de resolución “Apropiación extraordinaria para cubrir gastos relacionados con la celebración del quincuagésimo tercer período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General”

3. Consideración del nivel presupuestario global y del tope presupuestario del programapresupuesto de la Organización para 2024.]

De no haber observaciones, lo damos por aprobado.

CONSIDERACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE RESOLUCIÓN “APROPIACIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA

PARA CUBRIR GASTOS RELACIONADOS CON LA CELEBRACIÓN DEL

QUINCUAGÉSIMO TERCER PERÍODO ORDINARIO DE SESIONES

DE LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL”

El PRESIDENTE: Corresponde a continuación la consideración del proyecto de resolución

QUINCUAGÉSIMO TERCER PERÍODO ORDINARIO DE SESIONES

DE LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL”

El PRESIDENTE: Corresponde a continuación la consideración del proyecto de resolución “Apropiación extraordinaria para cubrir gastos relacionados con la celebración del quincuagésimo tercer período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General” acordado po r la Comisión de Asuntos Administrativos y Presupuestarios (CAAP) en su reunión celebrada ayer, 11 de mayo, ad referéndum de las Delegaciones de Colombia y México, y que ha sido elevado a la consideración del Consejo Permanente como documento CP/CAAP-3903/23 rev. 2.

Consulto entonces, en primer lugar, a las Delegaciones de Colombia y México, si están en condiciones de levantar sus reservas sobre el proyecto de resolución en consideración.

México, doña Luz Elena Baños tiene la palabra.

La REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE MÉXICO: Gracias, Presidente.

México sí quiere dejar sentado que nos parece que , si estamos en un clima de austeridad, ese tipo de gastos no son prioritarios y deberíamos dar una muestra de que no solo los Estados tienen obligaciones y responsabilidades, sino también los funcionarios de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA). No hemos encontrado, ni en esta ni en ninguna otra propuesta, ninguna apertura: y es que esto es un poquito, y el otro punto es otro poquito, y veinte puntos son poquitos, y vamos3juntando hasta ser miles y millones de dólares. No es el asunto del refrigerio, no es el asunto del desayuno, no es el asunto de las cuotas por el trabajo extra, es la actitud en sí, y eso México lo quiere

juntando hasta ser miles y millones de dólares. No es el asunto del refrigerio, no es el asunto del desayuno, no es el asunto de las cuotas por el trabajo extra, es la actitud en sí, y eso México lo quiere dejar sentado. Es lo mínimo que podemos hacer los Estados para velar para que el ejercicio presupuestal sea el adecuado.

Tenemos una administración de la Organización que es muy costosa, y la pagamos cada año, y les facilitamos la compra de aparatos para trabajar en sus casas sin que nos enteremos, [pagamos] para poner plataformas para manejar los números, etcétera, y a eso le damos prioridad y gastamos millones en eso, y no hay ninguna expresión de corresponsabilidad con el clima de austeridad que deberíamos tener.

Quizás no todos los países están en situación [de austeridad] y tienen una situación financiera muy sana, pero creo que dentro de la Organización tendríamos que expresar una corresponsabilidad básica sobre el tipo de gastos. Entonces, puede pasar nuestra observación de hoy y unirnos al consenso, sin embargo, sí queremos dejar expresado que no nos parece la mejor manera de actuar porque son cosas que si es posible quitar; no tenemos por qué ofrecer refrigerios gratuitos a todas las personas que [vayan a venir a la Asamblea General]; las personas tienen sus viáticos para venir, no necesitan eso, y a lo mejor es un gasto innecesario, pero no lo han querido quitar, hemos insistido en ello y pedimos que lo quitaran antes de venir acá y no lo han hecho.

Entonces sí, solo queremos dejar sentado la falta de voluntad y la falta de corresponsabilidad y de conciencia del momento de austeridad que deberíamos vivir, y que no hay una expresión mínima de

lo quitaran antes de venir acá y no lo han hecho.

Entonces sí, solo queremos dejar sentado la falta de voluntad y la falta de corresponsabilidad y de conciencia del momento de austeridad que deberíamos vivir, y que no hay una expresión mínima de la conciencia de lo que estamos viviendo, sino más bien una presión muy fuerte sobre los Estados para hacernos sentir irresponsables y con falta de generosidad. Pero esa no es la posición de México, damos muchos millones de nuestro presupuesto público, de los impuestos de nuestra gente, por eso pedimos cuentas, porque no es el presupuesto de ninguno de nosotros en particular, son los impuestos de nuestro pueblo, y [sobre el uso de] esos hay que rendir cuentas como rendimos todos en el sector público.

Gracias, Presidente.

El PRESIDENTE: Gracias a usted, Embajadora.

De no haber más expresiones, entonces vamos a dejar la nota al pie de página con relación a lo que manifiesta [la Delegación de México.]

Colombia está pidiendo la palabra. Adelante Colombia.

La REPRESENTANTE ALTERNA DE COLOMBIA: Gracias, señor Presidente.

La Delegación de Colombia también tenía una reserva sobre este documento. Quisiera también mencionar que mi país no se opondrá al consenso, sin embargo, creemos que se trata de un presupuesto bastante oneroso, que no corresponde con la situación financiera de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA). No quiero repetir lo que ya mencionó la Embajadora de México, pero mi país coincide plenamente con sus observaciones.

Muchas gracias.

El PRESIDENTE: Le consulto a México, ¿desea que sea una nota a pie de página, o quiere que se tome nota? Hago lo que usted entienda pertinente.- 4Muchas gracias.

El PRESIDENTE: Le consulto a México, ¿desea que sea una nota a pie de página, o quiere que se tome nota? Hago lo que usted entienda pertinente.- 4La REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE MÉXICO: Decidiré Presidente, gracias por consultar. Lo que decidamos así se lo informaremos.

El PRESIDENTE: Muy gentil.

No habiendo más solicitudes [para hacer uso de la palabra] en torno a este punto, el proyecto de resolución “Apropiación extraordinaria para cubrir gastos relacionados con la celebración del quincuagésimo tercer período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General”, contenido en el documento CP/CAAP-3903/23 rev. 2., queda aprobado.1/

CONSIDERACIÓN DEL NIVEL PRESUPUESTARIO GLOBAL Y DEL TOPE

PRESUPUESTARIO DEL PROGRAMA-PRESUPUESTO DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN PARA 2024

El PRESIDENTE: Pasamos al siguiente punto del orden del día, la consideración de la solicitud del Presidente de la Comisión de Asuntos Administrativos y Presupuestarios (CAAP) para brindarnos un informe sobre los avances en los trabajos de esa Comisión co n relación al proceso presupuestario y negociaciones en torno a nivel global, y tope de ejecución presupuestaria de acuerdo con el documento distribuido como documento CP/INF. 9745/23.

Tiene la palabra el presidente de la CAAP.

El PRESIDENTE DE LA COMISIÓN DE ASUNTOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y PRESUPUESTARIOS DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE : Good morning, Chair, and good morning colleagues.

Chair, excellencies, at this stage, the Permanent Council and its esteemed members are

El PRESIDENTE DE LA COMISIÓN DE ASUNTOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y PRESUPUESTARIOS DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE : Good morning, Chair, and good morning colleagues.

Chair, excellencies, at this stage, the Permanent Council and its esteemed members are cognizant of Article 96 of the General Standards [to Govern the Operations of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States], which directs that the Sec retary General shall submit the proposed program -budget to the Preparatory Committee, and send a copy to the Chair of InterAmerican Council for Integral Development (CIDI), together with a litany of other items, ten other items, A through J.

These prerequisites and requisites must be attained and concluded at least ninety days before the opening date of the General Assembly. Please note that the General Assembly is scheduled to convene on June 21, 2023, a short forty days from today’s proceedi ngs. This invariably places the current mandate significantly past due, that is, the statutory deadline for the presentation of the 20232024 [proposed] program-budget was March 23, 2023.

As we are abundantly aware, the Permanent Council has approved two extensions for the Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs (CAAP) to make a decision regarding the budget ceiling. Please note that the first extension was granted on April 20, 20 23, for a period up to April 28, 2023; a second extension was granted on May 3, 2023, for a period to expire May 10, 2023; accordingly, the former extension which was afforded has since expired.

1. Resolución CP/RES. 1223 (2428/23), anexa.- 5Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, by way of full disclosure and communication to this Council of all facts and circumstances, the Chair [of the CAAP] acknowledges, and hereby informs the

1. Resolución CP/RES. 1223 (2428/23), anexa.- 5Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, by way of full disclosure and communication to this Council of all facts and circumstances, the Chair [of the CAAP] acknowledges, and hereby informs the Council of a note that was transmitted by the delegation of Argentin a, apparently at the behest of an entity identified therein as Group Ten.

Further, in illustration of utmost transparency, the correspondence from the delegation of Argentina and the response from the Chair [of the CAAP] related thereto, will be tended to this Council for its records. With the permission and kind indulgence of t he Council, given the importance and required focus on the budget preparation process, I will address the ancillary matter of the correspondences at the conclusion of this status update.

By way of status update, excellencies, esteemed colleagues, to date, the CAAP has held sixteen formal and informal meetings, including two informal sessions. Consequent to the Council’s most recent extension, negotiations in the CAAP reconvened the very ne xt day on May 4, and additionally May 8 and May 10, followed by a formal meeting which was held yesterday on May 11, 2023. The deliberations focused on primarily three scenarios, and I will ask the Secretariat if we are in a position to present those scenarios, one of which was augmented by an inclusion by the delegation of the United States.

The three scenarios that were being considered, and have been considered over the last six to eight weeks, with an inclusion now, are as follows: scenario 1, which was enlisted by the delegation of Mexico; scenario 1b, which was enlisted by the delegation of Chile; and the Chair’s updated proposal, 2c, which was complemented by an inclusion by the delegation of the United States.

By elaboration and reminder, and for the record, the scenarios are as follows: scenario 1 is a zero nominal growth proposal which freezes the budget levels at the 2023 budget ceiling of US$82.8

2c, which was complemented by an inclusion by the delegation of the United States.

By elaboration and reminder, and for the record, the scenarios are as follows: scenario 1 is a zero nominal growth proposal which freezes the budget levels at the 2023 budget ceiling of US$82.8 million. Given that this scenario does not account for expected cost of living adjustment and inflation, selection of this option will require significant administrative and programmatic, or other strategic prioritization, or identification of other income sources or savings. More importantly, it is more than probable that scenario 1 will require significant reductions in staff, to the scale of approximately fifty staff members or 15 percent staff cuts.

Scenario 1b, which is a zero nominal growth proposal similar to scenario 1, keeps in place the 2023 budget ceiling of US$82.8 million, but proposes to add US$1 million to fund an external thirdparty comprehensive review of the Organization of American Sta tes (OAS). The total budget ceiling would thus be US$83.8 million. Similarly, given that this scenario does not account for expected cost of living adjustments for inflation, selection of this option will require significant administrative and programmatic, or other strategic prioritization, or identification of other sources of income or savings.

More importantly, it is more than probable that scenario 1 will require significant reductions in staffing to the scale of approximately fifty staff members or 15 percent staff cuts.

The Chair’s updated proposal: the Chair’s proposal, which is identified as 2 c, proposes an overall budget level of US$92.7 million, with a quota scale of US$92.1 million, excluding the delegation of Cuba, and a budget execution ceiling of US$90.4 million; US$2.3 [million] which accounts for expected non -payment of member states who are leaving, or who no longer consider themselves as members of the Organization.- 6Accordingly, the salient features of the Chair’s proposal are as follows: provides the mandatory cost-of-living adjustments, increases overall quota obligations in comparison to scenario 1, increases

themselves as members of the Organization.- 6Accordingly, the salient features of the Chair’s proposal are as follows: provides the mandatory cost-of-living adjustments, increases overall quota obligations in comparison to scenario 1, increases budget expenditure ceiling in comparison to scenario 1, includes funding to the external third party comprehensive organizational and operational view, which will be sourced from the indirect cost recovery reserve, and is consistent with the ICR [indirect cost-recovery] policy.

It also includes financing for the European Union Pillar Assessment and Enhancement Program Management oversight, and that also appropriates resources from the ICR, which is also consistent with the ICR policy. It includes a regular fund for the stabilizat ion and preservation of the OAS health insurance at 10 percent, versus the proposal which was 6 percent. And this proposal, based on estimates from the Secretariat for Administration and Finance (SAF), will not require staff reductions.

The inclusion by the United States proposes to address the concerns which were expressed by some member states regarding the scale of percentage increase in quota they may face as a result of the unfreezing of the quota methodology, and the desire by a majority of the member states that there will not be a real budget cut to the Organization next year.

The new proposal that was inserted, included by the United States—and I stand to be corrected because the United States is here, and they can elaborate further if I miss anything— details as follows: the scenario assumes the elements of 2c as a target to be set for the overall budget ceiling. Any member with an increase in their assessment percentage resulting from the ending of the freeze would receive a credit equal to the full amount of their assessment increase to go from scenario 1 to scenario 2, or US$200,000 in credits, whichever is less, upon payment of the 2024 assessment, less the calculated credit.

It may be warranted to inform that during the recent period of negotiations, a plethora of information that was requested by member states, that was either outstanding or was pending release,

US$200,000 in credits, whichever is less, upon payment of the 2024 assessment, less the calculated credit.

It may be warranted to inform that during the recent period of negotiations, a plethora of information that was requested by member states, that was either outstanding or was pending release, was furnished by the General Secretariat to the member states. I t is therefore anticipated that with the production of the requested information, those member states that preconditioned their considerations on its receipt can expedite their budget related decisions.

To be clear, I, as the Chair of CAAP, and I believe all member states, are in solidarity with the view that we as member states are deserving to receive responses in a reasonable time, and in fullness; those requests for information are required to guide o ur deliberations. We note that the Secretariat for Administration and Finance, and the broader Secretariat, do have human resources constraints largely due to the decisions we have taken as members states to impose austerity on the Organization over several years, but we look forward to the continued and respectful collaboration with the Secretariat going forward to meet our shared goals of a proper stewardship of the Organization.

Additionally, commitments have been made by several delegations to submit, in written presentations, their respective proposals or counter proposals. The Committee therefore looks forward to enhanced development given the forgoing commitments.

Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, in summation, notwithstanding the ongoing discussions and negotiations and iterations that proposals will be forthcoming, as it stands, the CAAP, and by extension member states, have not arrived at a unanimous no consensu s decision to present to the Permanent Council today in respect to the derogation of a budget ceiling for the OAS Regular Fund for the period 2024.- 7Chair, having presented to this Council a status report of CAAP, it may be useful to offer clarifications as to the necessity of convening this special [meeting of the] Permanent Council in the first instance. Further, there is the matter of addressing the correspondence which was received by the

Chair, having presented to this Council a status report of CAAP, it may be useful to offer clarifications as to the necessity of convening this special [meeting of the] Permanent Council in the first instance. Further, there is the matter of addressing the correspondence which was received by the Chair from the delegation of Argentina in its capacity as coordinator. The response to both queries is correlated.

Firstly, regarding the correspondence, which was received from the delegation of Argentina, the Chair makes every effort to be inclusive and welcomes input from all member states and relevant stakeholders. The Chair sought a legal review, and an official r esponse was offered and has been tendered.

Notably, the correspondence itself offered views, but did not articulate in precise terms a request, and it was ambiguous in the sense of identifying an end point or destination.

The Chair hails from a region, a culture, and well -honed training and tradition, which encourages and prides itself on the maintenance of discipline and the adherence to good procedural and legal order. More importantly, this Chair is neither inclined nor imbued with the ability to arrogate onto itself, by fiat, or by self-design, the authority that exceeds its remit.

In regard to the expiration of the extension of the mandate, which was granted by the Permanent Council on May 3, 2023, which concluded on May 10, as Chair of CAAP —which is a subordinate advisory body to the Permanent Council —I am therefore compelled and d uty bound to provide an update, offer advice, and seek further directives or instructions from the Permanent Council, or otherwise, Article 19.b prescribes such.

Please be advised that the Chair, nor CAAP, can extend its own writ, the Permanent Council is the basis of authority; from whence I current came, so shall I return. In fact, the return date was May 11, 2023.

For further clarity, to offer an answer to a question that was posed last evening —and it was a

the basis of authority; from whence I current came, so shall I return. In fact, the return date was May 11, 2023.

For further clarity, to offer an answer to a question that was posed last evening —and it was a very valid question, and I welcome such inquisitions —as to whether the Chair could have cancelled today’s Permanent Council meeting, the simple response is an emphatic yes, and affirmative. However, a fulsome reply would reveal that the Chair, and CAAP, would not be in compliance with the writ issued by the Permanent Council, which concluded on May 10, 2023. If the suggestion is to continue outside of that remit, that is not the prerogative nor the practice of this Chair.

Excellencies and colleagues, as a collective, we have been working diligently to develop a viable solution that addresses the concerns and priorities of all member states, and we are confident that we are nearing a definitive outcome.

Per Article 19.b of the Rules of Procedure, it is up to the member states to decide how we proceed, whether it is prudent to continue our work without limits, or to continue our engagement in the fulsome manner, but with some time constraints, given the sh ort runway before us to the General Assembly, and the ability or inability of the General Secretariat to produce the documents and the necessary inputs.

We would seek to maintain some fidelity with the obligations laid out in the statutes. We should therefore set and govern ourselves by rules.- 8In order to ensure the thoroughness and effectiveness of the process, it is respectfully requested that the Permanent Council grant the CAAP an additional seven calendar days extension for presentation of a proposal for the budget ceiling to the Permanent Council on May 19, 2023. This additional time will allow CAAP to ensure that all relevant factors have been taken into account. Further, the extension will also enable those member states that are formulating proposals or require additional authorization in order to conclude related processes, to do so.

additional time will allow CAAP to ensure that all relevant factors have been taken into account. Further, the extension will also enable those member states that are formulating proposals or require additional authorization in order to conclude related processes, to do so.

Chairs, excellencies, this will be the third and final extension, thus by way of advance notice, please be comforted that on the occasion of the presentation of the Permanent Council, where this budget ceiling will be considered, a decision will be sought.

We trust by consensus, or if deemed necessary, through the democratic exercise of Article 58 of the Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council. We appreciate your understanding, continued collaboration, and support as we work together to achieve a mutuall y beneficial outcome for all involved.

Thank you very much.

El PRESIDENTE: Yo le agradezco mucho, Presidente de la Comisión de Asuntos Administrativos y Presupuestario