Proposed Action Plan Language on Summit Follow-up

[Presented at the XII SIRG Meeting]

 

Future Summits and Summit Follow-up

We have made significant progress both collectively and individually on our hemispheric agenda since the, Miami Summit. Recognizing the value of a thoughtful, concerted effort to continue building a community of democratic nations, we will undertake to implement this Plan of Action on the national and international levels. While our governments have the primary responsibility and, obligation to carry out this effort, the firm dedication of international organizations and the active participation of our citizens are vital to success. In order to be accountable to our citizens in following-up on Summit commitments, we will strengthen our process of monitoring the implementation process in a manner that is objective and independent of any one country or institution.

We, the Heads of State and Government of the Hemisphere, agree that Summits of the Americas are a vital part of our ongoing dialogue and should be held periodically in order to give direction of the highest order to the-hemispheric agenda. Accordingly, we are determined to institutionalize the implementation and monitoring processes as well as the formulation of agenda for future Summits, drawing on the support of multilateral institutions and the input of other relevant actors in the hemisphere.

Specifically, governments will:

Continue the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), and assign to it the task of monitoring progress and challenges in carrying out Summit commitments. The SIRG, composed of Vice-Ministerial representatives from all member countries, will be led by a Summit Executive Steering Group consisting of the present Summit host, all past hosts, and the future host and will continue to operate under the principle of consensus. The Secretary General of the OAS will be invited to serve in a personal capacity as an advisor to the Summit Executive Steering Group.

Invite the Organization of American States (OAS) in coordination with the SIRG, to develop a process and an appropriate mechanism, adhering to the principle-e of consensus, to formulate agenda for future Summits of the Americas, in consultation with other hemispheric institutions and representatives of civil society organizations.

Charge foreign, ministers to meet annually to review the work of the SIRG and assess progress in the implementation of the Summit Plan of Action.

Entrust to Responsible Coordinating countries or international organizations the task of coordinating Hemispheric actions on specific initiatives with the support of the relevant international organizations.

Recognize that the OAS, IDB, PAHO, ECLAC, and the World Bank are instrumental in the implementation of the commitments agreed to in this Plan of Action and should play an important role in their respective areas of specialty in close consultation with Summit Governments.

Request that the OAS, IDB, PAHO, ECLAC, and the World Bank offer administrative support to

governments in carrying out this Plan of Action. Representatives of these institutions and the Summit leadership troika will consult periodically on the administrative and technical requirement to advance both the monitoring and implementation processes as well as the coordination of activities undertaken by these organizations in their respective areas, drawing on the good offices of the OAS Secretary General to facilitate such consultations.

Request the OAS to serve as the "institutional memory" of the monitoring and implementation processes by establishing a center for documentation within the Organization and drawing on existing resources on the Internet and elsewhere.

Promote the meaningful participation of citizen groups and organizations, the private sector, and individuals in the implementation of this Plan of Action and in the preparation of future Summits, and invite them to engage in studies and analysis on implementation efforts with the purpose of improving upon them.

Strengthening the Inter-American System

We note with pleasure that the Organization of American States will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this year. As our nations adapt to the realities of revitalized democratic rule, liberalized markets, and an increasingly globalized world economy, the institutions and. organizations that serve the hemisphere must also be positioned to optimize their relevance and effectiveness. The major hemispheric institutions - the OAS, IDB, PAHO, and ECLAC - must be poised to support and facilitate our collective and individual efforts.

Therefore, governments will:

Undertake a review of the roles, objectives, and organization of the hemisphere's institutions to ensure the most effective structures can emerge to serve the governments, nations, and peoples of the hemisphere in the 21st Century. A special commission of 16 distinguished representatives of the public and private sectors will be convened by October 1998 to carry out this review and will make recommendations to foreign ministers well in advance of the next Summit of the Americas. The heads of the four hemispheric institutions will submit nominations for eight private commissioners to the Summit leadership troika; eight public sector commissioners will be nominated by the troika, based on geographical representatives and in consultation with other Summit governments. The work of the commission will be facilitated by the OAS.

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