The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, held a meeting on Friday with the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States, Albert Ramdin, with whom he discussed joint work programmes as well as the main issues in the region. Prior to this, they signed an agreement to strengthen regular political dialogue between Spain and the organisation.
The Minister highlighted the special attention given in recent years to assisting the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia, in which Spain, in line with its firm commitment to peace, will increase its financial contribution, as well as its presence in electoral processes through observation missions.
Furthermore, regarding security and the fight against organised crime in the region, Albares emphasised the need to steer joint action based on shared values and principles. The work carried out in recent years in the field of cybersecurity was also reviewed, as were the areas where coordination is to be strengthened, such as the consolidation of democratic institutions and gender equality.
Albares also emphasised Spain’s interest in continuing to contribute to the OAS’s work and remaining one of its main external donors. He highlighted Spain’s contribution to the organisation in the field of development cooperation, channelled through the Spanish Fund for the OAS, which this year celebrates its twentieth anniversary and through which more than 77 million euros have been allocated since its inception.
Through the OAS, Spain works to support the democratic institutions of its Member States and the inter-American human rights system, serving as the organisation’s longest-standing observer and maintaining a close relationship with it in its main areas of action.
Spain-OAS Political Dialogue Agreement
During the meeting, an agreement was signed that will establish a mechanism for regular political dialogue between Spain and the OAS and will enable the monitoring of the various areas of collaboration between the two, as well as establishing a permanent channel for dialogue on issues of regional and global interest.
For images, click here
.
-NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-