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Press Advisory

OAS to Host Meeting of Leaders of Regional Organizations on Democracy

The Organization of American States (OAS) will host on April 14 and 15 the first Meeting of the “Interregional Dialogue on Democracy,” co-organized by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) with the objective to serve as a platform to create a commitment between regional organizations from around the world on democracy and related subjects.

The Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, will host the meeting alongside the President of the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping; the Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Surin Pitsuwan; the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Tuiloma Neroni Slade; the Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Dhiyana Fathimath Saeed; and the Secretary General of International IDEA, Vidar Helgesen.

The objective of the meeting, which will be closed to the press, is to find answers to the following questions, among others: What is understood by democracy? What regional instruments and organizations are there to support and strengthen democracy? What is the role of regional organizations in the construction of democracy? And, what are the mandates of Secretary Generals in promoting democracy, opportunities and challenges?

At the end of the meeting the participants, led by Secretary General Insulza, will offer a Press Conference at 14:00 EDT (18:00 GMT) in the San Martín Hall of Organization headquarters.

Afterwards, at 15: 00 EDT (19:00 GMT), Secretary General Insulza will welcome participants to the XLIV Lecture Series of the Americas, titled, “Regional Perspectives on Democracy: Celebrating Ten Years of the Inter-American Democratic Charter,” with an introduction by the Chair of the Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the OAS, Ambassador Gillian Bristol, and the participation of Jean Ping and Vidar Helgesen as speakers. The event will be held in the Hall of the Americas.

WHAT: First “Interregional Dialogue on Democracy”; Press Conference and Lecture Series of the Americas, titled, “Regional Perspectives on Democracy: Celebrating Ten Years of the Inter-American Democratic Charter”

WHEN: The meeting, which is closed to the press, will be held on April 14 and 15; the press conference will be held on April 15 at 14:00 EDT (18:00 GMT); and the Lecture Series of the Americas will be held on April 15 at 15:00 EDT (19:00 GMT).

WHERE: Organization of American States
17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006

Reference: AVI-073/11