OEA - Documento CP ACTA. 2373 25 de 2025

[image] OEA/Ser.G

CP/ACTA 2373/22

6 abril 2022

ACTA

DE LA SESIÓN ORDINARIA

CELEBRADA

EL 6 DE ABRIL DE 2022

Aprobada en la sesión del 21 de mayo de 2025

INDICE

Página

Nómina de los miembros que asistieron a la sesión 1

Aprobación del proyecto de orden del día 3

Bienvenida del Representante Permanente de Suriname,

Embajador Jan Marten Willem Schalkwijk 4

Conmemoración del Día Internacional de la Visibilidad Transgénero 9

Conmemoración del Día Interamericano para Contrarrestar la Fabricación y el Tráfico

Ilícitos de Armas de Fuego 21

Consideración del proyecto de resolución “Reconocimiento del Octogésimo Aniversario

de la Junta Interamericana de Defensa y de sus contribuciones a la seguridad hemisférica” 43

[Aprobación del proyecto de resolución] 44

Despedida del Embajador Carlos Alberto Játiva Naranjo, Representante Permanente del Ecuador 56

Consideración del proyecto de resolución “Lugar y fecha de la Segunda Conferencia

de los Estados Partes de la Convención Interamericana sobre Transparencia en las

Adquisiciones de Armas Convencionales (CITAAC)” 72

[Aprobación del proyecto de resolución] 72

Consideración de la “Metodología para la priorización de mandatos” 72

Otros asuntos 73

ANEXOS

RESOLUCIONES APROBADAS:

CP/RES. 1193 (2373/22), Reconocimiento del 80º Aniversario y de las contribuciones

de la Junta Interamericana de Defensa a la seguridad hemisférica 75

CP/RES. 1194 (2373/22), Lugar y fecha de la Segunda Conferencia de los Estados Partes

de la Convención Interamericana sobre Transparencia en las Adquisiciones de Armas

Convencionales (CITAAC) 79

CP/RES. 1194 (2373/22), Lugar y fecha de la Segunda Conferencia de los Estados Partes

de la Convención Interamericana sobre Transparencia en las Adquisiciones de Armas

Convencionales (CITAAC) 79

DOCUMENTO CONSIDERADO EN LA SESIÓN

(SE PUBLICAN POR SEPARADO)

CP/doc. 5766/22, Nota de la Presidencia de la Comisión de Asuntos Administrativos y Presupuestarios mediante la que solicita que en la próxima sesión ordinaria de Consejo Permanente se considere la “Metodología para la priorización de mandatos”

CP/doc. 5767/22, Nota de la Presidencia de la Comisión de Seguridad Hemisférica en la que solicita la consideración de los proyectos de resolución “Reconocimiento del Octogésimo Aniversario y de las Contribuciones de la Junta Interamericana de Defensa a la Seguridad Hemisférica” y “Lugar y Fecha de la Segunda Conferencia de los Estados Parte de la Convención Interamericana sobre Transparencia en las Adquisiciones de Armas Convencionales (CITACC)” en el orden del día de la próxima sesión ordinaria del Consejo Permanente

CP/doc. 5767/22 add. 1 rev. 2, Proyecto de resolución “Reconocimiento del 80º. Aniversario y de las Contribuciones de la Junta Interamericana de Defensa a la Seguridad Hemisférica”

CP/INF. 9314/22, Nota de la Misión Permanente de Costa Rica mediante la cual, en nombre de los Estados Miembros que integran el Grupo Núcleo LGBTI de la OEA, solicita la inclusión de la Conmemoración del Día de la Visibilidad Trans en el orden del día de la sesión ordinaria del Consejo Permanente programada para el 6 de abril de 2022

CP/INF. 9324/22, Nota de la Misión Permanente de México mediante la cual, en su calidad de Presidencia de la Conferencia de los Estados Parte y Secretaría Pro Tempore del Comité Consultivo de la CIFTA, solicita la inclusión de la conmemoración del “Día Interamericano para Contrarrestar la Fabricación y el Tráfico Ilícitos de Armas de Fuego” en el orden del día de la sesión ordinaria del Consejo Permanente más próxima al 5 de abril de 2022

CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN ORDINARIA

CELEBRADA EL 6 DE ABRIL DE 2022

En la ciudad de Washington, D.C., a las diez y dos de la mañana del miércoles 6 de abril de 2022, celebró sesión ordinaria el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados Americanos. Presidió la sesión la Embajadora Elizabeth Darius-Clarke, Representante Permanente de Santa Lucía y Presidenta del Consejo Permanente. Asistieron los siguientes miembros:

Embajador Everson Hull, Representante Permanente de Saint Kitts y Nevis, y Vicepresidente del Consejo Permanente

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

Embajadora Lou-Anne Gilchrist, Representante Permanente de San Vicente y las Granadinas

Embajador Everson Hull, Representante Permanente de Saint Kitts y Nevis, y Vicepresidente del Consejo Permanente

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

Embajadora Lou-Anne Gilchrist, Representante Permanente de San Vicente y las Granadinas

Embajadora Rita Claverie Diaz de Sciolli, Representante Permanente de Guatemala

Embajador Alejandro Ordóñez Maldonado, Representante Permanente de Colombia

Embajador Carlos Alberto Játiva Naranjo, Representante Permanente del Ecuador

Embajador Noel Anderson Lynch, Representante Permanente de Barbados

Embajadora Yolande Yvonne Smith, Representante Permanente de Grenada

Embajador Gustavo Tarre Briceño, Representante Permanente de Venezuela

Embajadora Luz Elena Baños Rivas, Representante Permanente de México

Embajador Hugh Adsett, Representante Permanente del Canadá

Embajadora María del Carmen Roquebert, Representante Permanente de Panamá

Embajador Josué A. Fiallo Billini, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana

Embajador Carlos Alberto Raimundi, Representante Permanente de la Argentina

Embajador Washington Abdala, Representante Permanente del Uruguay

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 Leon Charles, Representante Permanente de Haití

Embajador Otávio Brandelli, Representante Permanente del Brasil

Embajador Jan Marten Willem Schalkwijk, Representante Permanente de Suriname

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

Ministro Raúl Mariano Martínez Villalba, Representante Interino del Paraguay

Primera Secretaria Judith-Anne Rolle, Representante Interina del Commonwealth de Dominica

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

Ministro Raúl Mariano Martínez Villalba, Representante Interino del Paraguay

Primera Secretaria Judith-Anne Rolle, Representante Interina del Commonwealth de Dominica

Primera Secretaria Shirnaya Valin Stephen, Representante Alterna de Santa Lucía

Consejero Felipe Andrés Sáez Marcuse, Representante Interino de Chile

Embajadora Wendy Jeannette Acevedo Castillo, Representante Alterna de El Salvador

Consejera Gillian Ingrid Joseph, Representante Alterna de Antigua y Barbuda

Ministra Consejera Saira Esmeralda Ponce Rosales, Representante Alterna de Honduras

Ministro Consejero Deon L. Williams, Representante Alterno de Jamaica

Ministra Consejera Christobelle Elaine Reece, Representante Alterna del Commonwealth de las Bahamas

Ministra Ana Gabriela Vasquez Rivasplata, Representante Alterna del Perú

También estuvieron presentes el Secretario General de la Organización, señor Luis Almagro Lemes, y el Secretario General Adjunto, Embajador Nestor Mendez, Secretario del Consejo Permanente.

La PRESIDENTA: Good morning, distinguished colleagues. The Secretariat having verified that there is quorum, I am now pleased to call to order this regular meeting of the Permanent Council.

This being the first meeting under the chairmanship of Saint Lucia, I wish to put on record my country’s commitment to working assiduously towards the advancement of the issues of importance to the membership of the Organization of American States, and in particular, to that of the Caribbean subregion during this period of significant regional and global challenges, particularly in connection with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies and livelihoods.

At all times, Saint Lucia’s chairmanship will be guided in its duties in accordance with the Rules and Procedures that govern this body and in keeping with the foreign policy of Saint Lucia, which is based on two fundamental premises: that of respect for the sovereignty of countries, and therefore having a non-interventionist posture, as well as an agenda driven by the domestic development needs. Our priorities will be focused on advancing a sustainable development agenda for the hemisphere and a focus on putting the people that we serve first.

In accordance with Article 8.d of the Rules of Procedure, the tentative work plan for the Permanent Council, with Saint Lucia as Chair, has been duly distributed to all delegations as document CP/doc.5764/22.

Esteemed colleagues, before considering the order of business for today’s meeting, I would like to take this opportunity to express our condolences to the distinguished delegation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and to the government and people of that member state, on the passing of Premier Vance Amory. Premier Amory served two terms as Premier of Nevis, from 1992 to 2006 and from 2013 to 2017, and served as the Minister of Sports in the Nevis Island Administration. May his soul rest in peace.

Allow me also to convey congratulations to the people and government of Costa Rica on the elections held last Sunday, April 3, 2022, in which Mr. Rodrigo Chaves was elected as the next President of this sister nation.

It also falls on me, on behalf of the Council, to thank the outgoing Chairman of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Everson Hull of Saint Kitts and Nevis, for his stewardship of the Permanent Council during the last quarter. Ambassador Everson Hull is not able to join us this morning, so I kindly ask the delegation of Saint Kitts and Nevis to relay to our esteemed colleague the gratitude and congratulations of the Permanent Council for his deft leadership during that period. The commemorative gavel in recognition of his chairmanship will be sent to him. We also extend our best wishes for his speedy return to good health.

I also wish to express gratitude to Ambassador Gilchrist of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for her stellar contributions as Chair of the Permanent Council in the absence of Ambassador Hull.

Finally, I wish to turn to some important housekeeping matters. Given our financial constraints, I would like to make an earnest appeal to delegations to continue to make efficient and effective use of the time and resources available to the Permanent Council. I therefore ask that delegations try to limit interventions to a maximum of five minutes, pursuant to the provisions of Article 46 of the Rules of Procedure. I thank you in advance for your cooperation.

In addition, following consultations with delegations that propose alternative dates for resumption of in-person meetings, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 35 bis of the Rules of Procedure, I wish to inform you that the next regular meeting of the Permanent Council, scheduled for April 20, will be convened as a face-to-face meeting. Delegations that are unable to attend this in-person meeting will be able to connect virtually since the meeting will be held in hybrid modality. The Secretariat will provide the necessary information regarding arrangements and details for participation in the meeting.

APROBACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE ORDEN DEL DÍA

La PRESIDENTA: I am pleased to declare open this regular meeting of the Permanent Council, convened to consider the items contained in the order of business, document CP/OD-2373/22, which I hereby submit for the consideration of this Council.

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

1. Aprobación del orden del día (CP/OD-2373/22)

2. Bienvenida del Representante Permanente de Suriname, Embajador J. Marten W. Schalkwijk

3. Conmemoración del Día Internacional de la Visibilidad Transgénero

• Declaración del Grupo Núcleo LGBTI de la OEA sobre el Día Internacional de la Visibilidad Transgénero
• Testimonios de:
• Señora Marie Isabelle Gendron, Fondation Émergence de Canadá
• Señora Dayana Hernández, Asociación Transvida de Costa Rica - Presentaciones a cargo de: - Señora Jessica Stern, Enviada Especial de Estados Unidos para la promoción de los derechos humanos de las personas LGBTIQ+ - Comisionada Roberta Clarke, Relatora sobre los derechos de las personas LGBTI de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos

1. Conmemoración del Día Interamericano para Contrarrestar la Fabricación y el Tráfico Ilícitos de Armas de Fuego

• Alocuciones de los siguientes oradores: - Señor Alejandro Celorio Alcántara, Consultor Jurídico de la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores de México - Señor Gastón Schulmeister, Director del Departamento contra la Delincuencia Organizada Transnacional - Señor Guillermo Moncayo, Director interino del Departamento de Seguridad Pública

1. Consideración del proyecto de resolución “Reconocimiento del Octogésimo Aniversario de la Junta Interamericana de Defensa y de sus contribuciones a la seguridad hemisférica”

2. Consideración del proyecto de resolución “Lugar y fecha de la Segunda Conferencia de los Estados Partes de la Convención Interamericana sobre Transparencia en las Adquisiciones de Armas Convencionales (CITAAC)”

3. Consideración de la “Metodología para la priorización de mandatos”

4. Aprobación de actas de sesiones del Consejo Permanente:

• CP/ACTA. 2325 (sesión ordinaria del 23 de junio de 2021) - CP/ACTA. 2328 (sesión extraordinaria del 7 de julio de 2021) - CP/ACTA. 2335 (sesión extraordinaria del 25 de agosto de 2021) - CP/ACTA. 2343 (sesión extraordinaria del 30 de septiembre de 2021)

1. Despedida del Embajador Carlos Alberto Játiva Naranjo, Representante Permanente del Ecuador

2. Otros asuntos.]

There being no observations, we will proceed to adopt it without amendment. Adopted.

Bienvenida del Representante Permanente de Suriname,

Embajador Jan Marten WILLEM Schalkwijk

La PRESIDENTA: It is now my pleasure to extend a cordial welcome to the Permanent Representative of Suriname, Ambassador Marten Schalkwijk, who presented his credentials to the General Secretariat on March 28.

Ambassador Schalkwijk holds a degree in sociology from the University of Suriname and a doctorate from Cornell University where he was a Fulbright Fellow. Throughout his career, he has published close to seventy books, articles, and book reviews. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Suriname in 1981, serving for many years in the European Division. In 1983, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he became the Secretary of the National European Economic Community and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries Commission, later being nominated as Chairman until 1989. During this period, he also held the positions of Secretary of the Joint Commission Suriname-South Korea, Liaison Officer to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Secretary of the Joint Suriname-Netherlands Commission on Migration, and member of the Committee on Development Cooperation with the Netherlands.

In his work with NGOs, he was Director of the NGO Institute for Training and Research (NIKOS) and advisor to NIKOS with respect to the Twinning Facility Netherlands-Suriname. He also lectured at the Anton-De Kom University of Suriname, serving in the Department of Sociology, the Department of Public Administration, and the Institute for Graduate Studies and Research.

In 2020, he was nominated as advisor to the Cabinet of the President and to the Minister of Finance and Planning with special assignments as Coordinator for the Recovery Plan 2020-2022 and Chairman of the Tripartite Consultations.

Ambassador Schalkwijk, welcome to the OAS. The floor is yours.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE SURINAME: Thank you, Madam Chair. Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Excellency Luis Almagro; Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Nestor Mendez; Chairwoman of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Elizabeth Darius-Clarke; distinguished permanent representatives and observers, alternative representatives, staff of the OAS, and other distinguished participants.

Madam Chair, thank you for this honor of addressing the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States as the new Permanent Representative of the Republic of Suriname. Let me start, Madam Chair, by wishing you all the energy and wisdom in the coming months when you have to guide this Council through its proceedings. I am sure that your term of office will be very successful.

The Pan American Union was established when there was a need for agreement to solve a number of commercial and judicial problems many years ago. Today, the problems and issues that need to be addressed by the successor of the Pan American Union, the Organization of American States, have multiplied. This is not only because the number of independent states has increased, but also because the economy has become more differentiated, and civil society has expanded with new liberties. Democracy still seems to be the best system to regulate all these three spheres of society, which makes it a dynamic and complex instrument in itself.

At the same time, the number of interconnections between all these domains in our hemisphere have increased regularly and substantially. This is my way of creating a context for what the OAS is doing and to give each of the endeavors and institutions which I see in the organizational chart a place. The Inter-American Children’s Institute, for instance, is a function of the expanded civil society. The Inter-American Defense Board clearly has to do with the role of the state, while the Inter-American Institute for Agriculture is part of the economy. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is there to protect civil society from intrusions by the state. This all means that the inter-American system suggests the OAS is much needed.

On the one hand, the OAS tries to connect the dots between our states, economies, civil societies, and democracies, and on the other hand, it makes an effort to solve problems arising from any malfunctions in our hemisphere or in a certain region, or even in a particular country. Each of our countries, of course, tries to solve its own problems first, but sometimes you need bilateral cooperation to address cross-border problems or to improve economic development.

Then, we also have the regional bodies such as CARICOM, to address issues that more countries struggle with, or to benefit from a larger pool of experts or a larger market. The Organization of American States is still a step up in dealing with issues, and often the issues seem to become more abstract while solutions may take more time. So, it is important for our countries but also for this Organization, to have a good grasp of which issues may best be addressed by a multilateral body such as the OAS. This is a challenge because you cannot only deal with abstract issues since our people expect concrete benefits from membership of the OAS. The OAS has worked on such benefits, for instance, through its scholarship program and many other projects and programs.

As I try as a newcomer to make sense of the OAS, and even after just two weeks of being flooded with emails and virtual meetings, I see its benefits and challenges more clearly. This is an organization that takes its mandates seriously and tries to contribute towards peace, stability and development in this hemisphere.

Let me emphasize that the government of Suriname supports the OAS and its role in promoting integral development, multidimensional security, safeguarding democracy and human rights, as well as strengthening regional cooperation. There are many challenges that we are facing as countries and which we need to address. Some are existential, such as climate change, while others are major threats, such as trans-border crime and the COVID-19 pandemic. But we also see a recent global threat to world peace with severe economic implications for our own countries. With such threats, it is better to work together to find the solutions than to do it alone. In fact, there is no alternative than to work together to confront the major challenges we face.

Madam Chair, during my career, I have worked at all levels of society. I enjoyed living in a village near the Brazilian border and assisting the local Tiriyó tribe with their village plan as much as teaching advanced statistics at the University, or being Chairman of the Tripartite Consultations to reach an agreement with labor unions and business leaders. But my professional career started out at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I find myself back to take on new international responsibilities.

It will be my honor to work with all of you, and be assured that I will contribute, on behalf of my country and myself, to the challenging work of the OAS. Thank you, Madam Chair.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you, Ambassador. I now offer the floor to the coordinators of the regional groups and delegations wishing to welcome the Permanent Representative of Suriname.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE BELIZE: Thank you, Madam Chair. First, I want to congratulate you on assuming the Chairmanship of this esteemed Permanent Council. We in Belize have noted your priorities, and we want to assure you that we will give you our full support.

I take the floor on behalf of the CARICOM group of ambassadors to extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Ambassador Charles Marten William Schalkwijk as he joins us today for the first time at this Permanent Council meeting. As you have heard, Ambassador Schalkwijk has had an impressive career, spanning over forty years in the foreign service and academia. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his professional achievements working as a civil servant, a civil defense specialist, and a social advocate. He has worked with his government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance and Planning, and during his academic career, he has authored over seventy publications, with extensive experience working with civil society organizations. His first-hand knowledge of social and economic issues is sure to bring an invaluable perspective and voice to this Permanent Council.

Your Excellency, as we work together to advance the core principles of this Organization, we know that we can count on experienced representatives such as yourself to help realize our goals to construct a hemisphere grounded in democracy, mutual respect, tolerance, and equality for all. Please be assured of the solidarity and the commitment of the CARICOM group as we welcome you into this CARICOM group and we work collaboratively to address the many issues confronting our region.

Ambassador Schalkwijk, the CARICOM group is pleased to welcome you to the House of the Americas. We look forward to working with you and your government to promote the principles enshrined by the Charter of the Organization of American States.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

La PRESIDENTA: Representative of Panama, you have the floor.

La REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE PANAMÁ: Gracias, señora Presidenta.

Siendo la primera vez que intervengo durante su presidencia deseo expresar nuestros mejores deseos para este trimestre en el que dirigirá los trabajos del Consejo Permanente, viendo de donde está realizando la primera sesión y viendo la primera decisión que ha tomado como Presidenta ya estamos viendo que viene con el dinamismo necesario para que esta Organización retome los trabajos con la fuerza necesaria de este período y tiene usted el apoyo completo del [los países miembros del] Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA).

En nombre de Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panamá y la República Dominicana, países miembros del Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana, tengo el honor de dirigirme al Consejo Permanente con el fin de expresar la más cordial bienvenida al distinguido Representante Permanente de la Misión Permanente de Suriname ante la Organización de los Estados Americanos, Embajador Jan Marten Willem Schalkwijk.

Desde el grupo regional SICA queremos saludar su designación, Embajador Schalkwijk, a un foro que se verá nutrido con su amplia y destacada experiencia como servidor público, académico y experto de la sociedad civil que le ha hecho merecedor de múltiples reconocimientos científicos y académicos. Su hoja de vida demuestra su gran compromiso con el comercio y el crecimiento económico de la subregión del Caribe; además, saludamos su labor desde la sociedad civil donde desarrolló con ahínco planes y proyectos en beneficio de la región.

Su reconocimiento internacional en las ciencias aunado a su experiencia negociadora y de asesoramiento al más alto nivel en materia de recuperación económica, traerá una perspectiva en línea con el futuro de la Organización.

Los Estados Miembros de la Comunidad del Caribe (CARICOM) y SICA enfrentamos desafíos comunes en materia económica, de cambio climático y seguridad, no cabe duda de que la pandemia y la desigualdad golpean con fuerza a nuestras subregiones y debemos aunar esfuerzos para llevar adelante una agenda que nos permitirá impulsar esa recuperación tan ansiada por y para nuestros ciudadanos.

Su Excelencia, el Grupo regional SICA se pone a su disposición para llevar a cabo esta agenda y apoyarlo en su gestión. Le deseamos el mayor de los éxitos en el desempeño de sus funciones.

Muchas gracias.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you. The representative of the United States has the floor.

El REPRESENTANTE INTERINO DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS: Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I will be brief. The United States wishes to join the other delegations in warmly welcoming Ambassador Jan Marten William Schalkwijk to the Organization of American States.

Ambassador, we look forward to working with you on all hemispheric issues, including safeguarding democracy and human rights, multidimensional security, and integral development. We wish you success in your tenure, and will cooperate closely at all levels.

Thank you very much.

La PRESIDENTA: The representative of Mexico, you have the floor.

La REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE MÉXICO: Muchas gracias, señora Presidenta.

La Delegación de México reitera a usted su disposición para trabajar muy activamente durante su gestión. Es muy inspirador ver a una mujer talentosa presidir este Consejo Permanente, preocupada y ocupada en fortalecer un multilateralismo que sirva a las personas.

México da la más cordial bienvenida al Embajador Jan Marten Willem Schalkwijk, Representante Permanente de Suriname, quien cuenta con una amplia trayectoria diplomática, política, académica y de trabajo cercano con la sociedad civil, credenciales que le auguran mucho éxito en su gestión como Representante Permanente de su país ante la OEA.

Su trabajo académico sobre el proceso de independencia y descolonización de Suriname y su amplia experiencia diplomática nutrirá los debates y discusiones al interior de la Organización desde la perspectiva de la soberanía de los Estados.

Señor Embajador, deseo aprovechar también esta ocasión para recordar y agradecer la reciente visita de su Presidente y de su Canciller para participar en la Cumbre de Jefes y Jefas de Estado y de Gobierno de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, oportunidad en la que también se fortalecieron nuestros lazos bilaterales.

Le deseo mucho éxito en su gestión, cuente con mi Delegación para trabajar temas que atiendan las prioridades de nuestros países y fortalezcan los principios y valores comunes en la OEA.

Gracias, señora Presidenta.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you. The representative of Canada, you have the floor.

El REPRESENTANTE ALTERNO DEL CANADÁ: Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and good morning everyone. On behalf of Canada, Ambassador Adsett, and the whole team of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States, it is a pleasure for me to welcome Ambassador Schalkwijk to the Permanent Council this morning.

Canada and Suriname enjoy a strong friendship, anchored over forty-five years of bilateral relations. These relations have strengthened in recent years due to increased commercial and investment levels, as well as a number of shared priorities, including human rights and democracy and good governance.

We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Suriname with these issues here at the OAS and to exploring new opportunities for future partnership. We are confident that Ambassador Schalkwijk, given his deep diplomatic and political experience, will be a strong advocate for his country’s interests here within the Permanent Council, as well as for the common values and principles that bind us together here as members of the inter-American community.

On behalf of Ambassador Adsett and the whole Canadian team, welcome!

Bienvenue, de la parte de toute la Mission Permanente du Canada. Merci.

La PRESIDENTA: Thank you. We wish the Permanent Representative of Suriname, Ambassador Schalkwijk, every success.

I notice that the representative of Brazil is requesting the floor. Sir, you have the floor.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DEL BRASIL: Obrigado, Senhora Presidente.

Suriname e Brasil são países vizinhos e, por esse motivo, eu não poderia deixar de dar as boas-vindas ao Embaixador desse irmão país.

Nós compartilhamos, Brasil e Suriname, vários aspectos da nossa cultura. Fragmentos da língua portuguesa ainda hoje se usam no Suriname. E compartilhamos uma cultura gastronômica, alimentícia, indígena e de costumes muito semelhante no norte do Brasil e no sul do Suriname.

O Suriname é um país com o qual o Brasil possui um acordo comercial no âmbito da Associação Latino-Americana de Integração (ALADI) e que sempre desejamos poder aprofundar e ampliar naquele âmbito de negociação regional.

Portanto, tendo conhecido ontem, em uma longa conversa bilateral, o Embaixado