FPOSC 2009

Honduras to Host OAS General Assembly in 2009

Preparations are well underway for the hemisphere’s foreign ministers to meet in Honduras in early June for the thirty-ninth regular session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly, for which the topic of non-violence will be the main theme.

Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, the OAS Assistant Secretary General, on a visit to Honduras met with President Manuel Zelaya Rosales and Foreign Affairs Minister Ángel Edmundo Orellana Mercado to continue discussions on logistics for the annual conference that will be held in San Pedro Sula.

The discussions with President Zelaya centered on the concept paper and the topic, which was proposed by the Honduran government.

A press conference was held afterward to announce preliminary details and report on the status of preparations for the foreign ministers’ gathering, which is the OAS’ highest decision-making body.

The Assistant Secretary General held another meeting with the Foreign Minister, the National Coordinator and the Foreign Ministry’s Coordinating Team, describing the consultation as “very positive.” He said that besides the additional information exchanged, the meeting at the Honduran Foreign Ministry set “some clear target dates for progress” in the lead-up to the General Assembly.

Ambassador Ramdin extended an invitation to President Zelaya to visit the OAS to address the member state representatives and provide more details about the General Assembly topic. Prior to the presidential visit to the OAS’ headquarters, Foreign Minister Orellana is expected to visit Washington, DC to sign the agreement under which the government of Honduras will host the OAS General Assembly.