OEA - Documento AG ACTA 518 25 de 2025

[image]QUINCUAGÉSIMO QUINTO PERÍODO ORDINARIO DE SESIONES OEA/Ser.P

Del 25 al 27 de junio de 2025 AG/ACTA 518/25

St. John’s, Antigua y Barbuda 3 octubre 2025

Original: Textual

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN DE CLAUSURA

Fecha: 27 de junio de 2025

Hora: 7: 25 p. m.

Lugar: Centro de Convenciones de la American University de Antigua

Presidente: Señor Everly Paul Chet Green

Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio y Asuntos de Barbuda de Antigua y Barbuda

Presentes: Thomas R. Hastings (Estados Unidos)

Tarlis Francis (Grenada)

Mónica Bolaños Pérez (Guatemala)

Samuel A.A. Hinds (Guyana)

Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste (Haití)

Roberto Ramos Bustos (Honduras)

Anthony B. Anderson (Jamaica)

Daniel Alberto Cámara Ávalos (México)

Ana Irene Delgado (Panamá)

Raúl Alberto Florentín Antola (Paraguay)

José Luis Sardón de Taboada (Perú)

Rubén Silié Valdez (República Dominicana)

Augustine Fitzstephen Abdullah Skerritt (Saint Kitts y Nevis)

Elizabeth Darius-Clarke (Santa Lucía)

Frederic Stephenson (San Vicente y las Granadinas)

Miriam Mac Intosh (Suriname)

Jenny G. Thompson (Trinidad y Tobago)

Valeria Csukasi (Uruguay)

Ronald Sanders (Antigua y Barbuda)

Carlos Bernardo Cherniak (Argentina)

Chet Donovan Neymour (Bahamas)

Victor Fernandes (Barbados)

Francis Fonseca (Belize)

Héctor Enrique Arce Zaconeta (Bolivia)

Benoni Belli (Brasil)

Stuart Savage (Canadá)

Gloria de la Fuente González (Chile)

Victor Fernandes (Barbados)

Francis Fonseca (Belize)

Héctor Enrique Arce Zaconeta (Bolivia)

Benoni Belli (Brasil)

Stuart Savage (Canadá)

Gloria de la Fuente González (Chile)

Laura Camila Sarabia Torres (Colombia)

Arnoldo André Tinoco (Costa Rica)

Steve Ferrol (Dominica)

Mónica Rosa Irene Palencia Núñez (Ecuador)

Wendy Jeannette Acevedo Castillo (El Salvador)

Albert R. Ramdin (Secretario General de la OEA)

Nestor Mendez (Secretario General Adjunto)

Asuntos

1. Palabras del Presidente de la Asamblea General

2. Palabras del Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos

3. Entrega de un mallete recordatorio y de un juego de banderas de los Estados Miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos al Presidente de la Asamblea General

4. Voto de agradecimiento al pueblo y Gobierno de Antigua y Barbuda

5. Palabras del Presidente de la Asamblea General

El PRESIDENTE: Honorable Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation; esteemed Ambassador Benoni Belli, Chair of the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council and of the General Assembly’s Preparatory Committee, and Permanent Representative of Brazil to the OAS; distinguished representatives of the member states; esteemed Secretary General of the OAS, Albert R. Ramdin; esteemed Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Nestor Mendez; distinguished permanent observers to the OAS; representatives of international organizations; representatives of civil society organizations and other social actors; special guests; ladies and gentlemen:

With deep satisfaction and a renewed sense of commitment, I address you in a final act declaring the conclusion of this, the fifty-fifth regular session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States.

Over the past three days, we have engaged in a constructive and respectful dialogue, reaffirming our shared commitment to regional integration and the principles of multilateralism.

With deep satisfaction and a renewed sense of commitment, I address you in a final act declaring the conclusion of this, the fifty-fifth regular session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States.

Over the past three days, we have engaged in a constructive and respectful dialogue, reaffirming our shared commitment to regional integration and the principles of multilateralism.

A particularly meaningful exchange took place around the central theme of this session: “Building resilient, inclusive economies in the Americas.” The active engagement of all delegations highlighted the importance of economic resilience, equity, and sustainability as key pillars for long-term recovery and prosperity in our Hemisphere.

This General Assembly also produced concrete and timely results. We adopted important resolutions that strengthen hemispheric cooperation in key areas—particularly in addressing the growing mental health crisis in our region, an urgent issue that demands coordinated, sustained action.

We also reaffirmed the value of shared memory and cultural identity through the commemoration of significant historical milestones and took steps to ensure the financial sustainability and institutional effectiveness of our Organization in the years ahead.

I must emphasize the resolution addressing the grave security and institutional crisis in Haiti. The resolution reflects the urgent need for coordinated and decisive action to support the Haitian people and help restore peace, stability, and democratic order. The strong commitment expressed by member states is both a message of solidarity and a call to action.

I would like to take a moment to recognize the leadership of Secretary General Albert Ramdin, for whom this has been his first General Assembly in this role. His steady guidance, clarity of vision, and commitment to the values of this Organization have marked a strong beginning. We are confident that under his leadership, the OAS will continue to serve as a vital forum for consensus and cooperation.

Today we say farewell to two giants of our Organization. I take this opportunity first to recognize a distinguished national of Antigua and Barbuda, Mr. Paul Spencer.

[Aplausos.]

Today we say farewell to two giants of our Organization. I take this opportunity first to recognize a distinguished national of Antigua and Barbuda, Mr. Paul Spencer.

[Aplausos.]

Paul has served for an exceptional period of thirty-two years. For many of those years, he was the only national of my country on the professional staff at the OAS. Throughout his long and dedicated career, he has served in many capacities, including as advisor in the Office of the Secretary General, and as an OAS country representative. This General Assembly marks his final participation before entering into retirement. On behalf of the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, I wish to express our deep and abiding appreciation for his outstanding service, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to the principles and mission of this great Organization. We extend to him our heartfelt thanks and best wishes for a rewarding and well-deserved retirement. Paul, we thank you.

Allow me also to express, in a very special way, my profound appreciation for Ambassador Nestor Mendez, as he concludes his distinguished tenure as Assistant Secretary General. Over the past ten years, Ambassador Mendez has demonstrated unwavering professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to the principles of the inter-American system. His leadership, diplomacy, and personal warmth have left a lasting mark on this Organization.

This General Assembly is his final one in this role, and it is only fitting that we recognize his extraordinary contribution. He has served the OAS with distinction and heart, always working to build bridges, strengthen unity, and promote the voice of all member states. We thank him deeply, profusely and wish him the very best in the next chapter of his journey.

I think it is appropriate for me, as your President, to have my final remarks be words of gratitude to you, esteemed delegates.

I recognize the delegation of Brazil at this time.

[Aplausos.]

I think it is appropriate for me, as your President, to have my final remarks be words of gratitude to you, esteemed delegates.

I recognize the delegation of Brazil at this time.

[Aplausos.]

El REPRESENTANTE DEL BRASIL: Senhor Presidente, senhoras e senhores chefes de delegação, distintos representantes, em nome da Delegação do Brasil, desejo prestar uma homenagem sincera ao Embaixador Nestor Mendes, que conclui seu mandato como Secretário-Geral Adjunto da Organização dos Estados Americanos após uma década de dedicação à causa do multilateralismo hemisférico. Nestor Mendes sempre teve os predicados de um grande diplomata: formação acadêmica sólida, trajetória respeitável, compromisso com os valores do Sistema Interamericano. No exercício do cargo, ele se distinguiu de maneira ainda mais marcante, alçando-se à condição de uma referência na diplomacia hemisférica.

Durante esses anos, o Embaixador Mendes foi mais que uma liderança institucional, foi um verdadeiro construtor de pontes entre países, entre perspectivas, especialmente entre sub-regiões. Com orgulho de suas raízes latino-americanas, centro-americanas e caribenhas, sempre procurou ser um elo vivo entre as diversas partes do nosso Hemisfério, promovendo a integração e o entendimento entre elas. Sua atuação foi marcada por equilíbrio, sensibilidade e um compromisso inabalável com os valores da democracia, da inclusão e do diálogo. Em momento de tensão, em momentos de tensão, porque foram vários, quando os ânimos se exaltaram ou as divisões ameaçaram prevalecer, a sua serenidade e sua firmeza ajudaram a preservar o espaço institucional como lugar de escuta, respeito e construção de consenso.

Tenho certeza de que, para Belize, a trajetória do Embaixador Mendes é motivo de legítimo orgulho. Sua atuação à frente da Secretaria-Geral Adjunta projetou com brilho a diplomacia de seu país no cenário hemisférico e demonstrou com clareza como o compromisso com o multilateralismo e a excelência profissional podem ampliar vozes e projetar concórdia. Ao Embaixador Mendes, o Brasil expressa sua profunda gratidão por tantos anos de parceria, equilíbrio e dedicação ao bem comum das Américas. Que os próximos passos de sua jornada sejam tão inspiradores quanto o legado que hoje celebramos.

Muito obrigado, Embaixador.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you, Brazil.

I recognize the delegation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

La REPRESENTANTE DE SAN VICENTE Y LAS GRANADINAS: Thank you, Mr. President.

In my capacity as Chair of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) for the current semester, I take the floor to express sincere gratitude to His Excellency Nestor Mendez, Assistant Secretary General, at this, his final session of the OAS General Assembly. ASG Mendez concludes his second term of office, having dedicated ten years of his young life to the service of the peoples of the Americas.

His personal and professional attributes have contributed to building trust in the Secretariat and among member states. This is absolutely indispensable in the facilitation of open and honest dialogue, and an essential element in building consensus.

In the premier multilateral forum which is the OAS, dialogue and consensus-building contribute significantly to maintaining peace and democracy–attributes which we enjoy fully in this Hemisphere.

Ambassador Mendez has demonstrated quality leadership of his team, and has been instrumental in introducing many transformations in the operations and effective management of the business of the OAS. I refer in particular to the sustained attention which Ambassador Mendez paid to ensuring the continuity of the business of the OAS during the COVID-19 pandemic. This he did with a people-centered focus, by placing the health and wellbeing of the staff at the center of the administrative arrangements for continuing the work of the OAS.

Here I refer to the drive-through voting process introduced in 2020 that ensured that elections occurred within the regulations of the Organization while respecting COVID-19 protocols.

Ambassador Mendez, your diplomatic acumen, your knowledge of the region, your love for the Hemisphere and its people, your dedication to the enhancement of the human capital in the Hemisphere, these are the attributes which made you an excellent—an excellent—hemispheric public servant. And I want to thank you for the work which you have done in the Organization of American States.

We will miss you!

And at this point, I would also like to extend our gratitude to your wife, Elvira, for sharing you with us.

Te llevamos en el corazón, te hecharemos de menos. Te queremos. Thank you very much. May God go with you.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you. I now recognize the delegation of Belize.

El JEFE DE LA DELEGACIÓN DE BELIZE: Thank you, Mr. President.

Very quickly, Belize would like to add our voice to the expressions of thanks to Ambassador Mendez for his service. Over the past decade, Ambassador Mendez has served this Organization with exceptional dedication, bringing to the role not only tireless diplomacy and unwavering professionalism, but also a deep and genuine commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights, development and security that underpin the inter-American system.

His leadership has been instrumental in advancing initiatives that strengthened institutional effectiveness, deepened multilateral cooperation, and gave greater voice to small and vulnerable states in the Hemisphere.

Importantly, Ambassador Mendez has been a steadfast advocate for hemispheric solidarity and innovation. He was especially effective in highlighting and advancing the shared priorities of CARICOM and the Central American Integration System (SICA), two subregions to which Belize proudly belongs, helping to bridge their perspectives and ensure their voices were reflected in hemispheric decision-making.

Ambassador Mendez’s legacy is etched not only in the important programs he championed, but also in the trust, respect, and affection—on full display today—that he earned from colleagues across the Americas.

His calm resolve, his inclusive spirit, and unshakable sense of duty have made an indelible mark on this Organization and all those who have worked with him.

Belize is deeply proud of his exemplary service, and we thank him for representing our nation with dignity, integrity, and heart. And we wish him every success in the journey ahead.

Thank you, Mr. President.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you, Belize.

We will have our last contribution from the floor from The Bahamas.

El REPRESENTANTE DEL COMMONWEALTH DE LAS BAHAMAS: Thank you very much, Mr. President.

It would be remiss of us to leave Antigua and Barbuda without thanking its people and the government for an excellent fifty-fifth regular session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly. It is my distinct honor to offer the heartfelt thanks and appreciation at the conclusion of what has been an important and productive General Assembly. First and foremost, we extend our deepest gratitude to the people and Government of Antigua and Barbuda for their gracious hospitality and exemplary hosting of the fifty-fifth General Assembly.

We pay special tribute to the Prime Minister, the Honorable Gaston Browne, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Chet Greene. And of course, to His Excellency Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States and dean of the diplomatic corps of OAS ambassadors in Washington, D.C. for his steadfast leadership and generous welcome.

The warm spirit and professionalism with which we have been received here reflects the best of Caribbean solidarity and diplomacy.

We also take this opportunity to recognize Secretary General Albert Ramdin, as he takes the helm of the Organization at a pivotal moment. We offer him our full support and best wishes as he leads us forward with vision and resolve.

At the same time, we extend immense appreciation to Assistant Secretary General Nestor Mendez, who concludes his tenure with distinction. Earlier, mention was made of two giants of the Organization—one is Mr. Paul Spencer, and the other, Mr. Nestor Mendez. Nestor is a brother, a friend, and a mentor. His tireless commitment to the OAS and to strengthening hemispheric cooperation has left a meaningful and enduring legacy. We thank him sincerely for his service.

We further commend the staff of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. I have felt the warmth every day from the people that have been a part of this operation.

We also thank the staff of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States, including the Department of Conferences and Management, the Office of Protocol, the Department of Press and Communications, and our skilled and ever dedicated interpreters, who probably find it difficult to interpret me with my heavy Bahamian accent. We thank the technical support teams, all of whom have worked with precision and care, often behind the scenes, and sometimes unappreciated. And they have done this to ensure the success of this Assembly.

Mr. President, we close with gratitude and optimism. We leave this beautiful country with renewed purpose and a deeper sense of collective responsibility to strengthen this Organization and to serve the peoples of the Americas.

I thank you, and I thank the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for a wonderful Assembly.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you. I recognize the delegation of Barbados.

La JEFA DE LA DELEGACIÓN DE BARBADOS: Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President: I should like to echo the sentiments of my colleague from The Bahamas and thank you, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, for the hospitality and arrangements that you have put in place.

But I could not leave this session without expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the Government of Barbados for the service rendered to the Organization of American States by Paul Spencer. Paul has been a friend and a supporter of Barbados for all of his tenure at the Organization, and during my time at the Organization of American States, I certainly benefitted significantly from Paul’s guidance and expertise. I wish you well, Paul, in your next chapter. Remember that you have friends and family in Barbados, and we look forward to helping you enjoy this next phase of your life.

To Ambassador Nestor Mendez, a former colleague—we served in the Organization of American States at the same time—I am happy to see that you had a successful tenure during the ten years in your current position. I wish you all the best for the future. I know you have big plans. You have many talents, so I am not wishing you farewell because I know that you are not going into retirement like Paul. There is a lot more for you to do in the service of the Hemisphere.

So I wish you the very best, and Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity also to thank the Governments of Panama and the Dominican Republic. We look forward to the next General Assembly in Panama, and to the Summit of the Americas in the Dominican Republic.

We have a very heavy agenda before us, and opportunities to address the challenges of the Hemisphere are certainly always welcome.

I thank you.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you, Barbados.

I give the floor to Jamaica.

El JEFE DE LA DELEGACIÓN DE JAMAICA: I would also like to associate Jamaica with the comprehensive vote of thanks that The Bahamas gave to the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda.

I would also like to express sincere appreciation to Assistant Secretary General Nestor Mendez, whose decade of dedicated service has left an indelible mark on the Organization and on the region. For Jamaica, your tenure has been marked by genuine partnership, steadfast commitment, and tangible collaboration.

In particular, we recall your most recent official visit to Jamaica in 2023 and your meaningful support for higher education and knowledge development in the region. We are especially grateful for your collaboration with the University of the West Indies to establish a scholarship fund that continues to benefit students from Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. As you prepare to close this chapter of your life, we wish you all the very best in your future endeavors and for your personal wellbeing.

As we say in Jamaica, walk good!

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you.

I now give the floor to Guatemala.

La JEFA DE LA DELEGACIÓN DE GUATEMALA: Muchísimas gracias, señor Presidente.

Yo voy a ser muy breve, pero quisiera hacer un homenaje en español, porque todos mis colegas han hablado en inglés y en portugués, y yo creo que la dedicación, el profesionalismo y, sobre todo, agradecer a Nestor Mendez por su amistad, por siempre darnos una mano, siempre estar ahí, lo vamos a extrañar mucho, pero estamos seguros que le espera un futuro más tranquilo en casa; con momentos más agradables en familia, pero no se olvide que esta es su casa, y siempre estaremos, cada uno de nuestros países, listos para recibirlo y siempre para mantener el contacto.

Muchas gracias por todo, Nestor.

El PRESIDENTE: Gracias, Guatemala. I will now ask the man himself, Ambassador Mendez, for a few words.

El SECRETARIO GENERAL ADJUNTO: Thank you very much, Mr. President.

If my voice shakes a little bit, it is because I am filled with emotion.

Yesterday, the Ambassador of Argentina said that when he was growing up, he was taught that giving thanks was perhaps the most important thing that somebody should know. I was also raised like that: I was taught at home that it is very important to give thanks. So, I would not want to leave without expressing a word of thanks. I cannot list everybody, but everybody is included in my thanks.

Let me start by thanking member states for their very kind words yesterday and today. I want to express my deepest gratitude for the honor, the opportunity, the privilege of serving as Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the last ten years.

Those ten years really flew by! I looked at some photographs the other day, and realized that in 2015, I still had a full head of hair!

Over this period, I have forged valuable partnerships with all delegations—with Ministers, with permanent representatives, with alternates. I value them greatly and will always cherish them.

I want to thank all of you for your commitment to addressing issues that are most important for our people, and for your tireless efforts to achieve consensus that allows concrete action on those issues.

Everybody knows that our OAS is a work in progress, constantly changing and adapting to respond to the needs of our member states. For sure, the OAS is not perfect. Indeed, it is far from perfect! But our Organization has responded when called upon to resolve some of the most complex political crises on many occasions. I know. I have seen it. I have been part of it. And it has been an invaluable learning experience.

One of the things that has been underscored for me time and again is that we have so much to learn from each other—from our diversity, from our different cultures, from our different realities, and certainly from our different political perspectives.

I want to thank the OAS staff. It has been a true honor to be a part of a most amazing team. Thanks to everybody who joined in preparing this General Assembly. Our people work hours and hours, and if they have to work all night, they do it. And they do it because they are committed, they are responsible and believe in what they do—in what wedo in the service of the Americas.

I want to say a very special thank you to the staff of my Executive Office: Ambassador La Celia Prince, my Chief of Staff; Carmen Lucía de la Pava; Francisco Laínez; Yolande; Kendall; Sandra Guaqueta, and the extended team that does so much work all the time—most of the time behind the scenes. These are hard-working, wonderful people who believe in what they have been doing, and they are committed to the OAS and to the Americas.

I also want to say a big “thank you” to the permanent observers. Thank you for your interest in the Organization and for your contributions, which go beyond the monetary contributions that are so valuable to our Organization. Your presence here fortifies and enriches our diversity.

Special thanks to Antigua and Barbuda, to Prime Minister Browne; to the Foreign Minister, the Honorable Chet Greene, and of course, to Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders, for hosting this historic General Assembly, which I will always remember as my last one in this post.

A very big thank you to Ambassador Liverpool and all of his team. They are a small group, but they are a powerful group. And they are dedicated, and they work hard. Thank you so much, Ambassador Liverpool, to you and your people.

I want to say also a special thank you to my wife, who is joining us today. Her love and support have been a source of strength and comfort to me and our family for decades now.

I close this chapter of my professional life as I started it ten years ago— with a heart full of gratitude for an abundance of blessings, and a hopeful look on the future and whatever roads life and the Almighty may lead me to.

But everybody knows that once you are OAS, you will always be OAS. This is one family that never abandons you, and you never feel out of it. So, you can always continue to count on me.

May our good Lord bless our Organization, and may the Almighty continue to guide and protect all of us and the people of the Americas whom we serve.

Thank you.

[Aplausos.]

El PRESIDENTE: As I close, let me also express sincere gratitude to all delegations for your thoughtful contributions, and for your active participation over the last three days. Your commitment to the values of this Organization has been essential to the success of this session. In fact, you made my Presidency easy!

Let us carry forward the spirit of this Assembly with unity, responsibility and renewed purpose, so that together, we may continue building a future where peace, democracy and prosperity are shared realities of all the peoples of the Americas.

Please join me in extending warmest thanks and appreciation to our volunteers, and to the management of our host venue, the American University of Antigua, the AUA, for the most commendable and outstanding assignment done for and on behalf of the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda.

As Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, entrusted with the responsibility of hosting this fifty-fifth regular session of the Organization of American States General Assembly, I give many thanks and much appreciation to the entire team at the Ministry.

And on behalf of the people and Government of Antigua and Barbuda, and our Prime Minister Gaston Browne, we say “thank you” for choosing Antigua and Barbuda. Thank you for gracing us with your presence, and I pray that we were good hosts to you over the last three days.

I now close my final presentation and turn the proceedings over to our esteemed Secretary General, Mr. Albert Ramdin. The floor is yours.

1. Palabras del Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos

El SECRETARIO GENERAL: Thank you very much.

I now close my final presentation and turn the proceedings over to our esteemed Secretary General, Mr. Albert Ramdin. The floor is yours.

1. Palabras del Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos

El SECRETARIO GENERAL: Thank you very much.

Good evening, all. Ministers and Heads of Delegations; of course, our distinguished President; Mr. Assistant Secretary General Nestor Mendez; staff of the Organization of American States (OAS), ladies and gentlemen.

As we come to the close of this fifty-fifth regular session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, in these beautiful surroundings, the twin island state of Antigua and Barbuda, we close this General Assembly with a good feeling, because the discussions have been rich, frank, and respectful. In your many speeches and presentations, we have touched on many strategic issues. We all understand the challenges which we face in the Hemisphere, and the road we still have to follow to a better place in the Hemisphere.

I want to start by congratulating Antigua and Barbuda for doing their utmost to make this General Assembly not only a successful one, but one that is well organized. We have not had glitches of any kind over the last two days. That in itself tells a lot about the capability of Antigua and Barbuda, a small Caribbean nation, to host such a large event.

And I want to put on record our appreciation to the Prime Minister of this country, the Honorable Gaston Browne, and to all those in the Ministry of Finance who have made their resources available. This is a costly exercise, and I want to thank them because the funds must come from somewhere.

I also want to thank Ambassador Ronald Sanders for all the detailed work done in Washington, D. C., in liaison with his team here in Saint John’s. It is not an easy task, but you have succeeded in delivering to the Organization an excellent fifty-fifth regular session of the General Assembly.

The leadership of our former colleague, Minister Chet Greene has been superb. He is a calm human being and has demonstrated that skill in the leadership of this Assembly, which is what we need: Someone who can steer the way even under difficult circumstances. Minister Greene, thank you very much.

And of course, I should mention Ambassador Liverpool and your team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the volunteers. Thank you very much.

We often forget how much is involved in the preparation of a General Assembly. This General Assembly did not start three months ago; it started immediately after the last one. The preparatory process involves politics, diplomacy, logistics, organizational skills and finances, and is extremely detailed.

I want also to thank the member states for their commitment and their dedication to making sure that the preparatory process was a good one. Thank you to the various chairpersons who have led their committees and councils since last year’s General Assembly in Asunción.

I know that the bar has been set high for Panama for the next General Assembly. But I am sure that Panama, having been involve