The Summit of the Americas
Information Network and the
Secretariat for the Summit Process
As a result of the follow-up mandate of the Second Summit
of the Americas, which assigns the OAS with the role of “institutional
memory of the process” and to “provide technical support to the SIRG”,
the OAS Secretary General created, in July 1998, the Office of Summit Follow
Up (OSFU) through Executive Order No. 98-3. The Office acts as the
institutional memory and secretariat to the Summit of the Americas process,
coordinates the support of the OAS to in the implementation of Summit
mandates, supports the Chair of the Summit process as well as the SIRG, its
Executive Council and Steering Committee and Chairs the Joint Summit Working
Group, comprised of the OAS, IICA,
IDB, ECLAC, the
World Bank, CAF and
CABEI. The Office also manages the Summits of the Americas Information
Network web site, which includes a secure site for government officials and
negotiators.
Secretariat for the Summit Process
At the Quebec City Summit of the Americas, the Heads of
State and Government recognized the central role that the OAS performs
in support of the Summits of the Americas process, commending the
Organization for its work as the technical secretariat and the
institutional memory of the process.
To formalize this role, the OAS Secretary General signed Executive
Order No. 02-03 on May 31, 2002, which strengthens the
responsibilities of the Office of Summit Follow Up and renames it the
Secretariat for the Summit Process.
Under this new title, the Secretariat will continue to
coordinate the implementation of Summit mandates in the OAS and
provide support to: ministerial and sectoral meetings; the SIRG and
CEGCI; and in the preparations for the next Summit of the Americas.
At the same time, it will continue to coordinate the
participation of civil society in the Summit process and in the OAS.
Questions on the Secretariat or its work may be addressed
to: Secretariat for the Summit Process, Organization of
American States, 1889 F Street, NW, Washington DC, 20006, or by sending an
e-mail to [email protected]
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