GUYANA continues to press its case internationally against aggressive and illegal actions which affect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, moreso those measures involving the threat or use of force.

Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, yesterday led Guyana’s delegation to the 45th Regular Session of the Organisation of American States (OAS) General Assembly, and while not naming the recent decree issued by Venezuela and its President, Nicolás Maduro, purporting to annex swaths of Guyana’s territory as its own, called on the body of nations to pay heed to its vital function in preserving regional security.
GUYANA COMMITTED
In his inaugural address to the OAS in his capacity as Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Vice-President Greenidge told the gathering of plenipotentiary representatives that the new Government of Guyana, under the leadership of President David Granger, is strongly and unequivocally committed to the goals and ideals of the OAS.

He said, “We join you colleagues in the efforts aimed at ensuring that the essential purposes and ideals of the Organisation remain consistent and undiminished.”

Minister Greenidge used the opportunity to emphasise thus: “The vital function which this Organisation must exercise in order to ensure the preservation of regional peace, security and stability is unequivocal.”

He stressed that stability, security and peace in “our hemisphere cannot be maintained, nor can integral development be achieved, unless ALL nations observe International Law, and faithfully adhere to their treaty obligations.”

Minister Greenidge used his inaugural address to the OAS Regular Session to say, “Guyana strongly rejects all aggressive and illegal actions which affect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and moreso those measures that involve the threat or use of force.”

He further said Guyana calls “attention to the principles that underlie the OAS Charter relating to the settlement of differences between states by peaceful means, and (urges) all member states to honour the provisions of the charter which uphold these basic principles of international law and which are in our collective interest.”

CONGRATULATIONS
Minister Greenidge also used the opportunity to place on record the Guyana Government’s support for the OAS, and offered congratulations to Ambassador Luis Almagro on his installation as Secretary-General of the Organisation.

He said, “Our national agenda mirrors those very commitments articulated by Secretary-General Almagro during his installation ceremony on May 26 last, when he undertook to improve democracy and good governance, create better conditions for development, reduce inequality, advance human rights, and fight corruption.

“Given that the agenda of the OAS so closely parallels that of Guyana, the incoming Secretary-General and his administration consequently enjoy Guyana’s full support and solidarity in their leadership of this Organisation and in their efforts to better manage and rapidly modernise it.”

He also used the forum to publicly express gratitude to the OAS for fielding the recent electoral observer mission before, during and after the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections locally, which led to a change in Government, the first in 23 years.

He said, “It is with much satisfaction that my delegation takes its place at this historic Assembly.” He then qualified his statement by saying, “That satisfaction is due to the fact that the Assembly is being convened following the reaffirmation of our democracy, reflected in national elections.”

Minister Greenidge said the observer mission fielded by the OAS is but an example of the tangible worth of the Organisation. “The elections and their outcome have energised our society,” he reported to the OAS Assembly.

He said also that “the electorate has bestowed on the new Administration a mandate for political and social reform, and has set the stage for a much-needed national democratic renewal.”
WASHINGTON D.C.
The two-day OAS Regular Assembly, which was initially slated to be held in Haiti last week, wrapped up in Washington DC yesterday.

The regular General Assembly served as the first occasion in which new OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro participated in an official meeting with the foreign ministers of the member countries.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 45th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, Secretary-General Almagro told those gathered: “We want the OAS to be recognised as the hemisphere’s political forum, in which all the countries play an equal part in addressing our responsibilities as a partnership of nations, based on the foundations and principles that we defend: democracy, human rights, security, development.”

He called on the current members and leaders represented from across the myriad of delegations to “use our positions to break from the logic of talking in abstract terms about this Organization; we must tackle real problems.

“If not,” he said, “we will also be dodging the real problems that affect people, the real problems of protection of human rights, promotion of democracy, protecting our peoples’ vote throughout the Region…

“We must also tackle global issues such as climate change… Our hemisphere must be part of the solution and contribute in that direction,” he offered.

By Gary Eleazar