Mr. Chairman,

Yesterday in cities and towns across the United States, more than 117 million citizens cast their votes for president, as well as for representatives to the U.S. Congress, and for state and local officials. In an historic result, Senator Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States, the first African-American to achieve this office.

Voters here turned out in record numbers to participate in free, fair, and transparent elections, which are the most basic process of democracy. They did not fear retribution or reprisals for their votes, or go to the polls suspecting that their votes would be systematically compromised. They voted in accordance with the rule of law, confident that their voices would be heard.

At national, state, and local levels, the races were vigorous. They were conducted under the watchful eye of a vibrant and free media, which plays such an important role in the integrity of the election process. Far from fearing competition, candidates for elective office thrived on it, taking full advantage of the opportunity to make known their views on the issues and to explain fully why they deserved the voters’ confidence. There were winners and losers. But it is important to note that the innumerable concession speeches across the land – led by Senator John McCain’s – contained pledges to work together for the good of the country without rancor or retribution.

Mr. Chairman, I am very proud of my country today. United States citizens exercised the right to vote yesterday because they were determined to play a role in the future of their country. Let all of us here at the OAS continue our work with similar determination, striving to uphold and defend democracy in our Hemisphere under the Inter-American Democratic Charter. As President-elect Obama stated last night in his victory speech, “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."