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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
OAS Photo
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The
Permanent Representative of Suriname to the Organization of American
States (OAS), Niermala Badrising, today assumed the Chair of the
Permanent Council of the hemispheric institution, a position she will
hold for the next three months.
Upon assuming the role, Ambassador Badrising expressed the honor
and commitment the position implies and reiterated her "commitment to
the highest standards to ensure Suriname effectuates the mandate and
responsibilities entrusted to us” in a manner that is most beneficial
for all.
"Suriname aspires to contribute to the strengthening of the work
of our Organization," she said, and promised that her term as Chair will
be equally mindful of the concerns, interests and needs of all member
states. "As a country we have benefited significantly from the support
of the OAS, and we hope to increase our recognition of the importance
and critical nature of the work of the OAS," she said.
The Surinamese diplomat stressed the challenges and outstanding
issues the Organization will be facing in the next quarter, including
the election of the new Secretary General and Assistant Secretary
General, scheduled for
March 18, and the preparations for the Seventh Summit of the Americas, which will be held in Panama in April.
"We understand and anticipate that the upcoming months will
directly impact the prospect and outlook of the OAS. A new leadership
will ultimately influence the critical role of the OAS in furthering
regional integration and integral development across our Hemisphere,"
she said and added that" our task is to collectively work to strengthen
our Organization in order to retain our status as an effective
multilateral entity." "I believe that we are well positioned to realize
this goal and look forward to engaging with all parties during this most
important period," she said.
Ambassador Badrising, who served as Vice Chair of the Council
during the last three months, took over as Chair following the Permanent
Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, La Celia Prince,
whom she thanked for her stewardship and leadership directing the
Council, which she said set the stage for much of the work to be done in
the coming months.
For her part, the representative of Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines said it had been an "honor" to lead the work of the Council
and expressed her gratitude for the responsibility entrusted to her and
her team at the Mission, "particularly at this time, given the most
pressing issues on the Organization’s calendar."
Ambassador Prince, who assumed the Vice Chair of the Council
today, predicted a great performance for the new Chair and said that
Ambassador Badrising is known for producing high quality work. "With her
sharp acumen, and crisp understanding of multilateral diplomacy, we can
expect the Council to be on sound footing as we embark in this new
year” she said and concluded that “with the high standards and sharp
skills with which she is already equipped, the success of the Council’s
work is already assured.”
The event was attended by the OAS Secretary General, José Miguel
Insulza; the Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin; and the
Permanent Representatives of member countries and permanent observers.
The Permanent Council’s statutes establish that the Chair be held
by each of the Permanent Representatives in turn, following the
alphabetic order in Spanish of the names of their respective countries,
and the office of Vice Chair, by identical standards, following reverse
alphabetical order.
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