Updated
September 5, 2002
Hemispheric
Security
For
more information on activities in the area of Hemispheric
Security,
please see the following Web sites:
Hemispheric
Security mandates from the
Third Summit of the Americas
XXXI OAS General Assembly
San José, Costa Rica, June 3-5, 2001
During the General Assembly the following resolutions were
approved:
- AG/RES.
1789 (XXXI-O/01) Support for the Work of the
Inter-American Committee against Terrorism
This Resolution urges Member States to fulfill the
recommendations found in the Work Program of the
Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE).
-
AG/RES.
1792 (XXXI-O/01) Support for Action against Mines in
Peru and Ecuador
This Resolution urges the Secretary General to continue
supporting the work initiated by the Governments of
Ecuador and Peru as they work to implement all activities
corresponding to the Comprehensive Action Against
Antipersonnel Mines in both countries.
-
AG/RES.
1793 (XXXI-O/01) Support for the Program of Integral
Action against Antipersonnel Mines in Central America
This Resolution calls Member States and the Permanent
Observing States' to continue collaborating and lending
their support to the Assistance Program for Demining in
Central America and the other programs of the Program of
Integral Action against Antipersonnel Mines in Central
America. It also reiterates to the Secretary General that
he continue developing, through the UPD, cooperation and
coordination activities to raise the population's
awareness and work towards the rehabilitation of victims
and their families and the socioeconomic recuperation of
demining areas.
-
AG/RES.
1794 (XXXI-O/01) The Western Hemisphere as an
Antipersonnel-Land-Mine-Free Zone
This Resolution reaffirms the goal for the global
elimination of antipersonnel landmines, as well as the
goal to convert the Western Hemisphere into a zone free of
antipersonnel landmines. Those Member States that have not
already done so are urged, as well, to ratify the
Convention on the Prohibition of Use, Stockpiling,
Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and On
Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) and to become Party
to the 1980 United Nations Convention on Prohibitions or
Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons
Which May Be Deemed to Be Injurious or to Have
Indiscriminate Effects and its four protocols. This
Resolution also reiterates the importance of all Member
States participation in the OAS Register of Antipersonnel
Land Mines before April 15 of each year.
-
AG/RES.
1795 (XXXI-O/01) Preparations for the Summit Mandated
Special Conference on Security
This Resolution seeks to accelerate the tasks necessary
for the execution, in 2004, of the Special Conference on
Security. The Permanent Council is also asked to carry
out, through its Inter-American Commission on Hemispheric
Security, several meetings over the next two years in
preparation for the Conference and to make recommendations
on all pertinent subject matter. The Resolution also
requests that the Permanent Council complete a study on
the problems and risks for peace and security in the
hemisphere and on the prevention and resolution of
conflicts.
-
AG/RES.
1796 (XXXI-O/01) Support for the United Nations
Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
Weapons in All its Aspects
This Resolution seeks to increase Member States active
participation in the United Nations' Conference on the
Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its
Aspects. It also urges those Member States to consider the
implementation of national and regional elements of the
2001 Program of Action that will emanate from the UN
Conference. At the same time, the Permanent Council, at
the level of the Committee on Hemispheric Security, is
asked to hold an annual meeting on small arms and light
weapons.
-
AG/RES.
1797 (XXXI-O/01) Proliferation of and Illicit
Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons
This Resolution encourages Member States to apply the
Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission's (CICAD)
Model Regulations when formulating national legislation
and regulations. The Permanent Council is asked, as well,
to continue discussing, through its Commission on
Hemispheric Security and with the support of CICAD, the
advisability of undertaking a study concerning small arms
and lights weapons brokering and transit. The Resolution
also requests that CICAD continue its training programs in
order to foster Member States' capacity to implement the
Inter-American Convention against the Illicit
Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition,
Explosives, and other Related Materials. At the same time,
it asks the Permanent Council, through its Committee on
Hemispheric Security, to hold a seminar on stockpile
management, destruction, and identification of small arms
and light weapons. Finally, pertinent Member States are
encouraged to destroy the small arms and light weapons
that they have confiscated as a result of interdicting
illicit trafficking and have under their control.
-
AG/RES.
1799 (XXXI-O/01) Inter-American Convention on
Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions
This Resolution reaffirms adhesion to the principles of
the Inter-American Convention on Transparency in
Conventional Weapons Acquisitions. The Resolution also
encourages Member States that have not already done so, to
sign, ratify or adhere to the Convention as soon as
possible.
-
AG/RES.
1800 (XXXI-O/01) Inter-American Convention against the
Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms,
Ammunition, Explosives, and other Related Materials
(CIFTA)
A Resolution through which all Member States, that have
not already done so, are encouraged to sign and ratify,
depending on the case, the Inter-American Convention
against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in
Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related
Materials.
-
AG/RES.
1801 (XXXI-O/01) Confidence- and Security-Building in
the Americas
This Resolution urges Member States to implement the
recommendations from the Declarations of Santiago and San
Salvador on Confidence and Security Building Measures. It
also requests that the Permanent Council prepare a meeting
of experts dedicated to evaluate the implementation of
these measures and to consider future steps to continue
consolidating mutual confidence. Member States are
encouraged to continue promoting transparency in their
defense policies related to the modernization of the armed
forces. At the same time, the Permanent Council is asked
to execute a meeting on the Inter-American Convention on
Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions and two
United Nations confidence and security measures. The
Resolution asks the Permanent Council, as well, to
continue stimulating the exchange of experiences in the
area of confidence and security building measures with
other regions. Finally, the General Secretariat is charged
with putting into operation the cooperative communication
network for the instant exchange of information on
confidence- and security-building measures.
-
AG/RES.
1802 (XXXI-O/01) Special Security Concerns of Small
Island States
This Resolution convenes a Second High-Level Meeting on
the Special Security Concerns of Small Island States, with
a view towards adopting a management model through which
the security of small island states is appropriately and
adequately addressed. Another objective of this
Conference, as well, would be forming a definition for the
term, security, that applies to those small island states.
******
Follow
Up to Hemispheric Security Mandates
Strengthening
Mutual Confidence
Third
Conference of
the States Parties of the Ottawa Convention
In an effort to follow up on progress
made towards signing and ratifying the Ottawa Convention, the
Third Conference of the States Parties of the Ottawa
Convention took place on September 18-21, 2001.
At this Conference, in which more than 300 delegates
from 72 countries and 100 non-governmental organizations
participated, countries that have not yet signed the treaty
were called to do so. Moreover,
the participants congratulated those countries that had
eliminated extensive mining areas, diminished the number of
victims affected by such mines and improved the help offered
to those victims.
At the meeting’s conclusion, a
Declaration containing 17 points was approved, which
encourages that national, regional and international measures
are adopted in order to fulfill treaty obligations.
The document urges, as well, that governments and
communities throughout the world unite around the common task
of confronting the enormous challenges that surround anti-mine
action. It also
asks them to provide greater technical and financial
assistance to those programs associated with demining.
The next
Conference of the States Parties of the Ottawa Convention will
meet next year, in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 16-20,
2001. For more
information on demining, please see the following Web
site. Also, below you will find the most recent
destruction (as of November, 2001) of antipersonnel landmine
stockpiles in three affected Member States.
Destruction of Antipersonnel Landmine
Stockpiles in OAS Member States
Over a
period of four months, Peru and Ecuador destroyed more than
313,000 and 154,344 antipersonnel mines respectively, joining
Honduras as the Member States that completed the destruction
of their antipersonnel landmine stockpiles before the Third
Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, which took
place on September 18-21, 2001.
Nicaragua, despite having not completed destruction of
all landmines, was able to destroy 20,000 additional mines on
September 17, 2001. The
remaining 46,813 mines will be destroyed during the year 2002.
Uruguay ratifies two Inter-American
Conventions
On July 20, 2001, the government of Uruguay gave its full
support to the Inter-American Juridical System by depositing,
at the OAS Headquarters, the instruments for its ratification
of two Conventions. Uruguay deposited the instruments to
ratify the Inter-American Convention for the Elimination of
all Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities
as well as the Inter-American Convention Against the
Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms,
Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials.
Fund for Peace
During a ceremony celebrated on June 3,
2001, and as a part of the XXXI General Assembly, the OAS
announced that both Member States and country observers would
contribute new donations to the Peace Fund, at a total of $350
million. The purpose of this fund is to support the pacific
resolution of territorial controversies, and the money
recently donated to it will aid efforts to resolve problems
between Belize and Guatemala and between Honduras and
Nicaragua. Five OAS Member States will make new contributions
to the Fund, including Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Argentina and Brazil will send experts on military issues to
specifically support the recently announced Civil Verification
Mission in Honduras and Nicaragua. Observing countries that
have contributed include Denmark, Spain, the United Kingdom,
Israel and Italy.
Fight against
Terrorism
Second Regular Meeting of the
Inter-American Committee against Terrorism
On January 28-29, 2002,
the Second Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee
against Terrorism (CICTE) took place at the OAS Main Building
in Washington DC. At
the meeting, Member States approved recommendations made at
the Second Special Session of the CICTE (November 29, 2001) on
border control, financial control and the CICTE Work Plan.
Member States also
presented their reports on actions taken by their countries in
accordance with the decisions taken by the XXIII Consultative
Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in order to strengthen
domestic security and hemispheric and international
cooperation. They
also expressed that measures have been intensified to
contribute to the fight against terrorism within the framework
of individual, civil and political liberties and respect to
human rights. They
also stated that the United Nations (UN) Resolution 1373,
combined with the 12 UN anti-terrorist Conventions, provide
the base from which every country develops legislative and
operational measures. Among
those measures proposed were: the prevention and suppression
of the financing of terrorism; the establishment of serious
penalties within each legal system for those who participate
in and support terrorism; and the improvement of mechanisms
for mutual legal assistance and extradition.
Finally, the Chair of
the Working Group responsible for the preparation of the draft
Inter-American Convention against Terrorism presented the
report on the advances achieved in its elaboration.
These advances were concentrated on the issues related
to hemispheric cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
At the same time, it was decided that the draft
Convention would be written as a complement to the twelve
existing Conventions, and that it would address such issues as
money laundering and border control.
It is hoped that deliberations on this draft will be
concluded for the next General Assembly, which will take place
in Barbados, in June 2002. Peru offered to be the host for the signing of the
Convention.
Second Special
Session of CICTE
On November 29, 2001, the Second Special Session of
CICTE took place at the Organization of American States
headquarters in Washington D.C.
The Chairs of the Sub-committees on Financial Control,
Border Control and the CICTE Work Plan presented their
recommendations for the prevention, combat and elimination of
terrorism.
The recommendations for financial control addressed
legal frameworks, international instruments, national and
international cooperation and training and technical
assistance.
The Subcommittee on Border Control recommended the
improvement of border control mechanisms, the security of
identity and travel documents, the optimization of customs
control and cooperation mechanisms among countries to combat
terrorism.
The
Working Plan for CICTE was approved, although its financing
and structure will be considered for approval in the future.
The Work Plan includes programmatic activities for 2002-2003
and activities for the Inter-American Convention on the
Prevention and Elimination of Terrorism.
At the meeting, participants also approved the
Draft Agenda for the next Ordinary Meeting, which will take
place on January 28-29, 2002.
Consultation on Bioterrorism
Dr. George A.O. Alleyne, the Director
of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), convened a
consultation meeting of experts on Bioterrorism on October 24,
2001, in Washington, DC. The objective of this meeting was to
analyze the assistance and technical cooperation that PAHO
will offer to the countries of the Americas in the efficient
prevention, control and response to the security threats posed
by this type of terrorism, since it endangers public health in
the continent. For more information on this meeting, please
click here.
Declaration of the Ministers of
the Interior of Mercosur, Bolivia and Chile
On October 8th,
2001, the member states of MERCOSUR along with Bolivia and
Chile, issued a joint statement regarding the events and
aftermath of September 11th , 2001. In addition to
condemning the terrorist attacks and expressing solidarity
with the international community, the countries expressed
strong support for concerted international action against
terrorism, using legal instruments consistent with the
principles of International Law and available within the
framework of the Organization of American States and the
United Nations. MERCOSUR also announced the creation of a
Permanent Working Group to coordinate anti-terrorist
activities on a regional basis, with the anticipated
cooperation of Bolivia and Chile. For a full copy of the
statement (in Spanish), please click here.
OAS agrees to
support the United States under the TIAR
The Organization of American States agreed on
September 21, 2001, to give full support to the United States
of America within the framework of the Inter-American
Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty). The
summoning of the meeting under the Rio Treaty was made by
Brazil.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 23 countries
members of TIAR considered the terrorist attacks as
"attacks against all the American States" and asked
from all its members to collaborate in taking to justice those
who are responsible for them. The approved
resolution emphasizes that if a State Party of TIAR has
"reason to believe that persons in its territory may have
been involved in or in any way assisted the September 11, 2001
attacks, (…) such State party shall use all legally
available measures to pursue, capture, extradite and punish
those individuals". It also says that “all States Party
to the Rio Treaty shall provide effective reciprocal
assistance to address such attacks and the threat of any
similar attacks against any American state, and to maintain
the peace and security of the continent".
OAS member
countries unite in the fight against terrorism
On September 21, 2001, in Washington DC, OAS member
countries agreed to raise a united front against terrorism and
reiterated their solidarity with the United States of America
in relation to the September 11, 2001 attacks that took place
in New York and Washington.
In a special meeting of the Organization's 34 Members
the Ministers of Foreign Affairs approved by consensus a
resolution exhorting all OAS countries to "reinforce
regional and international cooperation against
terrorism". The document establishes that the fight must
be done with "full compliance to the law," to human
rights and to democratic institutions in order to preserve the
rule of law, the liberties and the democratic values of the
hemisphere. It also instructs the OAS Permanent Council to
convene at the earliest time possible a meeting of the
Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE), to decide
urgent measures to strengthen regional cooperation to
"prevent, fight and eliminate terrorism in the
Hemisphere". The resolution entrusts the Permanent
Council to elaborate a draft of an Inter-American Convention
against Terrorism, to be presented at the next OAS General
Assembly in June 2002, and invites the Inter-American Defense
Board to advise the Committee on Hemispheric Security when
necessary. Another paragraph commends the Committee on
Hemispheric Security to speed up work towards a Special
Conference on Security.
In order to diminish the impact of the new
international economic reality created by the terrorist
attacks against the United States, the Colombian Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Guillermo Fernández de Soto, proposed the
prompt celebration of a meeting of Ministers of Economy of the
hemisphere with the participation of the Inter-American
Development Bank and the World Bank. To see more about CICTE, please see this
site.
The OAS
convenes the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance
On September 19, 2001, the Organization of American
States called upon the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal
Assistance (TIAR) to consider the terrorist attacks
perpetrated against the United States of America on September
11, 2001.
The 34 members of the OAS Permanent Council agreed by
acclamation to summon the Organ of Consultation of the TIAR by
means of the Ministers on Foreign Affairs, to examine measures
against terrorism. The Council also convoked a Meeting of
Ministers of Foreign Affairs under the provisions of the OAS
Charter to consider an exhaustive strategy on hemispheric
security. The two meetings will take place consecutively on
September 21, 2001.
The Council responded to Mexico’s call to convene
the Foreign Affairs Meeting under the OAS Charter and to that
of Brazil to activate the mutual defense treaty (TIAR).
Those countries that are not members of the TIAR will
attend the consultation meeting as observers. Canada, one of
the 12 countries that is not a member of the TIAR, urged all
the OAS members, whether TIAR members or not, to integrate a
united front against terrorism and dedicate all their energies
and available resources to this objective.
Updated
September 5, 2002 |