The
XLVII Meeting of the Summit Implementation Group (SIRG) at the
Ministerial Level took place on June 5, 2007, in Panama City, Panama,
within the framework of the XXXVII General Assembly of the Organization
of American States (OAS). The meeting of foreign ministers and senior
officials of the thirty-four member states was convened by the
Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago - the first such
ministerial level meeting of the SIRG since Trinidad and Tobago assumed
the Chairmanship of the Summits process as host of the Fifth Summit of
the Americas to be held in Port of Spain in 2009. Senator the
Honourable Arnold Piggott, Minister of Foreign Affairs chaired the
meeting.
On
behalf of the twelve partner institutions of the Summit process (the
Joint Summit Working Group-JSWG), José Miguel Insulza, Secretary General
of the OAS, presented to the SIRG Ministerial, the publication entitled
“Towards the Fifth Summit of the Americas:
Regional Challenges,” a
collection of individual institutional perspectives on the challenges
and priorities facing the Hemisphere. The Secretary General highlighted
the challenges for the region of growth, inequality, democratic
governance and crime. The aim of this publication is to facilitate
political-technical dialogue among the many actors of the Summits
process, and to serve in particular as an important input to the
continuing, collective reflection within the SIRG, under the leadership
of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on the theme(s)
and content of a successful Fifth Summit that delivers meaningful
results for the peoples of the Americas.
Foreign
Minister Piggott reported on the preparatory work that his government
had already commenced for the Fifth Summit. Hosting the next Summit “is
an opportunity not just for us but, indeed, for all small states - more
especially those in the CARICOM region that have supported our
chairmanship - to come to the forefront and play a more strategic role
in the inter-American system.” He further noted: “It is essential that
in the lead up to the Port of Spain Summit in 2009 that we find an
approach to strengthen national implementation capacity if we want to
maximize the benefits of the decisions taken at the hemispheric level.”
Minister Piggott acknowledged with appreciation the efforts by twelve
member states that had submitted their national reports on their actions
to implement the commitments they assumed at the Fourth Summit of the
Americas that was held in Mar del Plata in November, 2005. He urged the remaining countries to submit their
national reports as soon as possible.
>>
National Reports
>> Remarks by Senator, the Honourable
Arnold Piggott
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago
The
Summits of the Americas Secretariat, also distributed to the SIRG
Ministerial the report entitled
“Achievements of the Summits of the Americas:
Progress since Mar del Plata”,
which summarizes the many activities carried out by the JSWG member
institutions to help realize the goals and objectives set by hemispheric
leaders at the Mar del Plata Summit.
Several
ministers and heads of delegation made comments on the Summits process,
including on ways to better improve and institutionalize the
relationship between the Summits process with the OAS and inter-American
agenda. Member states reiterated their support to Trinidad and Tobago
in the preparation of the next Summit. Minister Piggott thanked
delegations for this dialogue which provided “much food for thought and
action in order to continue our reflection and move forward on our work
ahead.” The SIRG Ministerial agreed that at the next regular meeting of
the SIRG, the Group would discuss and adopt a work plan on the basis of
a proposal by the Chairmanship.
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