“The OAS role must be to try to achieve the highest common goals”: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru

José Antonio García Belaúnde, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, recently presented to members of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) the theme of “Peace, Security and Cooperation” that his government has proposed for the upcoming 40th OAS General Assembly.

In an interview, Minister García Belaúnde spoke about the role the OAS must play in the search for greater trust among the countries of the hemisphere, and about his country’s expectations for the June meeting.

The theme’s presentation for the OAS General Assembly to be held in Lima, Peru, from June 6 to 8, is part of his country’s initiative to seek new agreements around policies that promote peace and security and motivate greater cooperation among peoples of the Americas.

Why is the subject of peace, security and cooperation so important for the Americas?

It was not easy to pick the theme and we know that there are other pressing matters for our hemisphere. But we thought that in some way the theme of peace, security and cooperation has more to do with the nature of this institution itself; an institution that was created to promote peace, cooperation and security in the region. In a way, we think that an assembly with an emblematic number like the number 40 could retouch the basic elements of our experiences and policies.

What do you think should be the OAS role in promoting the themes proposed by your country for the 40th General Assembly of the Organization?

The OAS must seek the highest common denominators. I believe that in certain areas that are difficult because of varying positions among countries the role of the OAS is to seek the points of agreement and try to reach common goals. It is very easy to reach agreements based on lowest common denominators, however we must seek to raise the common denominators, so they may be stronger and more comprehensive.

There is a shared spirit at the OAS that make us believe that by joining efforts we can have relatively high common denominators. Our differences should not make us lower our threshold of ambition, and I believe that an institution with a heritage as old as that of the OAS is capable of building bridges and consensus from our differences, and, for that purpose, Peru will give the best it has to offer.

What are the main commitments that Peru will advocate for to be adopted as part of the Declaration of Lima?

Peru has made a proposal, and we believe this proposal has all the necessary elements. Nevertheless, we know we must work together with the other member states. The Peruvian proposal has been made in terms of measures of mutual confidence, of security and of commitments for the reduction of arms spending.

What are Peru’s expectations, as host country, of the results of the Assembly?

I believe the OAS is an institution that has some successes, and it has become specialized in certain areas. The consolidation of democracy, for example, is a subject the OAS handles very well. Therefore, I would hope that as a result of this meeting the OAS confirms its heritage, and that it succeeds in making progress on other subjects like the one we are proposing.

Finally, how is Peru preparing for the meeting in June?

We are doing well. Peru has been host to two very important summits in the last year. The Summit of Heads of State and Government of Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union in which 60 delegations participated, with some 40 heads of state, and the APEC Summit (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum), in which 20 heads of state were present. Though it may be said that it is not a very large event, APEC is not only a summit, it is a series of sectoral meetings held during the year. I can therefore say, without false modesty and with legitimate Peruvian pride, that the two events were very successful, and I have no doubt that the meeting of the OAS will be the same.

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