MEXICO CHAIRS THE OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL

At a ceremony today in the Organization of American States (OAS), Mexico assumed the chairmanship of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, a political forum, a post it will hold until December 31, 2012.

The Permanent Council addresses any issue referred to it by the OAS General Assembly or the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs that contributes to maintaining friendly relations between the Member States and seeking peaceful solutions to disputes in the region. Mexico will work closely with the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI); the Inter-American Juridical Committee; the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the OAS General Secretariat to achieve the goals set by the Latin American countries.

The most important topics to be addressed under the Mexican chairmanship include promoting and strengthening democracy by following up on the work to strengthen the Inter-American Democratic Charter and the recommendations of the Special Working Group on the Commission on Human Rights.
Special attention will be given to the debate on the excessive volatility of commodity prices and its impact on food security and sustainable development; drafting the Social Charter of the Americas and its Plan of Action and approving the OAS program and budget for the year 2013.

Ambassador Joel Hernández, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the OAS, will become the chairman.