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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
95/06/04 Remarks: Informal Dialogue of OAS, Haiti
OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Montrouis, Haiti)
__________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 4, 1995
REMARKS
BY
SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER
AT AN INFORMAL DIALOGUE OF
THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
OAS General Assembly
Montrouis, Haiti
June 4, 1995
Foreign Minister Werleigh, distinguished ministers, it is a great
pleasure to join you today at this informal dialogue.
Over the coming days, our delegations will address a wide-ranging agenda
that shows just how vital the OAS is to attaining the goal of a stable,
prosperous and democratic Western Hemisphere. We should begin by noting
that this General Assembly is taking place in a democratic Haiti.
Together with President Aristide and the Haitian people, our nations
made history by demonstrating that our commitment to democracy goes
beyond words. It is fitting that the world's oldest regional
organization played a crucial role in defending human rights and
restoring democracy in one of the hemisphere's oldest nations.
The support of the OAS will remain essential to Haiti over the coming
weeks, months and years--just as it has been essential to other
democracies in our hemisphere. Last year, for example, the OAS helped
broker the Pact for Democracy to resolve disputed elections in the
Dominican Republic. Two years ago, it stood by democracy when it was
threatened in Guatemala. It has strengthened the legislature in
Paraguay. And it has helped Central American nations to preserve the
environment.
The increasingly vigorous role that the OAS is playing both reflects and
reinforces the remarkable political and economic transformation of the
Americas over the past decade. Over the coming days--and over the
coming years--we must use that foundation to build a lasting
architecture for the Western Hemisphere.
We should start by considering the thoughtful proposals for
restructuring the OAS that are outlined in Secretary General Cesar
Gaviria's New Vision working paper. Allow me to mention a few that
deserve particular attention:
First, we must consolidate democracy's hold in the region by supporting
the Secretary General's efforts to strengthen the OAS's Unit for the
Promotion of Democracy. We applaud the Secretary General's proposals to
re-allocate resources to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
and the Inter-American Court. Our member states can also send a strong
signal of our support for democracy by speedily ratifying the Washington
and Managua Protocols.
Second, the United States strongly supports the Secretary General's
decision to bolster the ability of the OAS to deepen the economic
integration of our hemisphere. The resources that the Secretary General
plans to allocate to the new Trade Unit will help the OAS spur economic
liberalization and trade expansion. We also look to the Unit to
increase coordination among members of NAFTA, MERCOSUR, CARICOM and
other regional groups, and to enable the smaller countries of the
hemisphere to benefit fully from free trade and open markets.
Third, we must intensify the fight against the corruption that
undermines our economic progress, our governments, and our societies.
The OAS can play a valuable role in enabling countries to adopt and
enforce collective measures against bribery, establish strict ethical
standards for public servants, and make the workings of our institutions
more transparent.
Finally, the United States also supports Secretary General Gaviria's
attempts to make the OAS more efficient. We agree that the OAS must
support projects more selectively by focusing on areas where it has a
comparative advantage.
The New Vision's proposals to strengthen democracy and expand free trade
will greatly assist the OAS to carry out the tasks it was given at the
Miami Summit. But we must do more, especially in the seven areas of the
Action Plan where our leaders called on the OAS to play a special role.
I look forward to working with my colleagues to refine the proposals in
this report. When the nations of this hemisphere meet in the OAS, each
country's voice is heard--no matter the size of its population,
territory, or economy. We respect each other's sovereignty, and we
recognize the needs of all our members.
As the Secretary General has often said, more is expected of the OAS
today than ever before. But high expectations are themselves the
product of high hopes. Never has the future of the Americas seemed
brighter. Never has the prospect of a stable, prosperous, and
democratic hemisphere seemed so close within reach.
Thank you very much.
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