Panama Presented the Theme of the OAS General Assembly

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Panama Presented the Theme of the OAS General Assembly

Panama's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Javier Martínez Acha-Vásquez, today presented before the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) the theme of the 56th General Assembly of the Organization: "A United America on the Bicentennial of the Congress of Panama," during a special session held at the headquarters of the hemispheric institution.

"We want an Assembly of democratic coexistence, not permanent polarization, because the Americas need less noise and more agreements," said Foreign Minister Martínez Acha-Vásquez, who explained that his country chose the Assembly's theme as a tribute to Simón Bolívar's hemispheric vision. "It was a vision ahead of its time, conceived by the liberator Simón Bolívar, who understood that the newly independent peoples of the Americas would not survive isolated, fragmented, or in conflict with one another, but rather united by principles, cooperation, and a shared destiny," added the head of Panamanian diplomacy.

For his part, OAS Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin said that the General Assembly-the Organization's principal annual meeting-is an opportunity to establish priorities and guide the work of the OAS in a realistic and forward-looking manner.
"This Assembly has special historical significance, as this year marks the bicentennial of the 1826 Congress of Panama. Although circumstances have evolved, the aspirations remain the same: to build consensus and respond collectively to regional challenges," stated Secretary General Ramdin.

The 56th General Assembly will take place in Panama City from June 22 to 24. Panama has previously hosted the OAS General Assembly on two occasions, in 1996 and 2007.

Reference: FNE-144845