Press Release 220

Mexico City     October 25, 2006

IN THE OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL, TWENTY-EIGHT COUNTRIES EXPRESS THEIR SOLIDARITY WITH MEXICO REGARDING THE WALL THAT DIVIDES THE AMERICAS

During today’s ordinary session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, emerging migratory issues were included on the agenda at Mexico’s request in order to address the issue of the wall.

The following member countries of the OAS joined Mexico in signing a joint declaration: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Granada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Santa Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela. They:

“Declared their deep concern regarding the decision adopted by the United States of America to build and extend a wall on its border with Mexico, considering it to be a unilateral measure that goes against the spirit of understanding that should characterize how shared problems between neighboring countries are handled and that affects cooperation in the hemisphere.

“They stressed that the building of walls does not encourage adequate attention to the migratory issue and

“They confirmed that the measure does not acknowledge the historic contribution of migrant workers to the United States’ own economic development.

“They agreed that the documentation of migrant workers is a solution that does not put up physical barriers.

“They reiterated their conviction that the issue of international migration and development should take into account its multiple dimensions in order to maximize its benefits and reduce to a minimum the negative effects, within a framework of respect for human rights, and

“They strongly urged the United States government to reconsider the construction of a wall that divides our America.”

Mexico expresses its deep appreciation for the message of solidarity given by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean regarding the issue of the dividing wall in our America and the clear need to address the issue of migration from a holistic perspective with full respect for the rights of migrants.