Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said the “real work” begins as Guyana steps into its role as chair of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and according to her, support will flow from across the region.
The meetings held in Georgetown were successful, Rodrigues-Birkett said, noting that the agenda was followed and all scheduled sessions completed during the summit. “The agenda was a packed one, but we managed to get everything in and the discussions were fruitful. I believe the most important achievement was the approval of the democratic charter,” the minister told Stabroek News on Monday.
Guyana now has to get “on top of things”, according to her, and this involves working on the immediate goals of the UNASUR. The goals include raising the profile of the union internationally, and focusing on political stability across the region.
The Declaration of Georgetown which came out of the summit deliberations had referred to the “UNASUR Fund for the Reconstruction of Haiti” which was set at US$100 million, and member states who had not yet contributed were called upon to do so. Minister Rodrigues disclosed that Guyana has contributed in full to the fund, explaining that a formula was devised for payments over a three-year period.
UNASUR member states are expected to contribute US$38,000 annually, but Guyana recently went ahead and paid the full sum for three years.
UNASUR held its fourth one-day summit in Guyana last week; preparatory meetings were held prior to Friday’s summit.
In the declaration, which praised the approval of the democratic charter among other things, the leaders ratified what is set forth in the “Declaration of Buenos Aires” dated October 1, 2010, concerning the situation in Ecuador, in which they “affirm that their respective governments categorically reject and shall not tolerate, under any circumstance whatsoever, any new challenge to the institutional authority or any attempted coup against the legitimately elected civil power, and they warn that in the event of new violations against the constitutional order, they shall adopt concrete and immediate measures, such as border closure, suspension of trade, air traffic and the provision of energy, services and other supplies.”
Leaders also acknowledged the work carried out by the South American Council on Health, particularly the adoption of its five-year plan and the success enjoyed at the donor table, which was held during the III Ordinary Meeting of the Council. Member states were urged to finalise the negotiation of the legal and budget aspects of the basic agreement of the ISAGS, as well as the 2011-2012 schedule of the institute, in such a manner as to strengthen the governance of health systems in South American countries.
In addition, the South American leaders underscored the importance of implementing the UNASUR Health Scholarship Programme in 2011 and stressed the need to continue expanding “the access of South American candidates to vacancies in renowned regional teaching centres”. South American Ministers of Health were urged to examine the possibilities of convergence among the various regional health organisations.
The declaration said too that the leaders recognised the advancements made by the South American Council on the world drug problem, by approving its statutes and action plan.
They also underscored the importance of making strides in effective regional co-operation in the framework of common and shared responsibility in the fight against the world drug problem and its related crimes. Additionally, the council was urged to establish in 2011, a mechanism for regular consultation for judicial, police, financial and customs authorities, as well as bodies involved in the fight against drugs in South American countries.
Further, the leaders expressed their satisfaction with the efforts undertaken by the South American Defence Council in approving the “procedures for the application of confidence and security building measures”.
