Presentation of Draft Declaration Kicks Off Fifth Summit Negotiations

On June 2, 2008, the Meeting at the Ministerial Level (2008) of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) was held in Medellin, Colombia, within the framework of the 38th OAS General Assembly. At that meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honorable Paula Gopee-Scoon announced that the Fifth Summit of the Americas will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on April 17-19 2009. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary General of the OAS, member States and other Summit stakeholders discussed the preparations for the Fifth Summit, the theme of the Summit, expected outcomes and specific measures to ensure implementation of the Summits mandates. The strengthening of the Summits Process was also addressed.

On July 24, 2008, the Second Regular Meeting of 2008 of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) was held at OAS headquarters in Washington DC. At this meeting, the Draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain was presented by Ambassador Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Coordinator of the National Secretariat for the Fifth Summit of the Americas and Special Envoy for the Americas of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. This presentation marked the starting point for the negotiation of the Declaration of Commitment which will be adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the OAS member States at the Fifth Summit of the Americas. At this meeting, Ambassador Rodriguez, the OAS Secretary General and Member States spoke on the thematic areas of the Draft Declaration and the extensive consultation process led by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. It was noted that the Draft Declaration reflects the concerns of Member States and includes the perspectives of the OAS and the Joint Summit Working Group as well as civil society organizations, the academia and experts.

As part of the negotiating process of the Declaration of Port of Spain a series of Regular Meetings of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) will be held during the second half of 2008. The first such meeting will be convened on September 18-19, in Barbados. Subsequent SIRG Meetings have been scheduled for October 16-17, November 13-14, and December 11-12, 2008 with the venues still to be confirmed.

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