STATEMENT OF AMBASSADOR ALBERT R. RAMDIN, CANDIDATE FOR OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL

March 3, 2010 - Washington, DC

Your Excellency, Ambassador Enrique Castillo, Chair of the Permanent Council;
Distinguished Permanent Representatives and Alternates;
Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza;
Distinguished Permanent Observers;
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Chair, first I wish to express my gratitude to you and the distinguished Members of the Permanent Council for giving me this opportunity to reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of the last five years and share with you my vision for this institution.

Although a national of the Republic of Suriname, I am privileged to once again address you as the candidate of the Caribbean Community. CARICOM Heads of Government unanimously endorsed my nomination in July 2009. Other member states of the OAS have also pledged their fullest support for my nomination, and, with your permission, I take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the overwhelming support and confidence, received so far.


Presentation of Candidacy

Today, I present my candidacy for a new term as Assistant Secretary General with a record of achievement, a demonstrated commitment to this organization and the citizens of our hemisphere. With a willingness to listen, take decisions and act in partnership with others, when necessary, I welcome the opportunity to complete the tasks I have undertaken.

I would like to express my appreciation to Secretary General Insulza for his collaboration during the time we have been in office. I am also thankful for the loyal efforts of my immediate team and the support of the dedicated staff of the General Secretariat, and affiliated organizations, including the Trust for the Americas, the Young Americas Business Trust and the Pan American Development Foundation, all of whom have contributed to the success of our efforts.

Over the last fifteen years, I have had the privilege to work in different capacities within the Organization of American States; as a diplomat, political advisor and elected official. I have witnessed and been part of many processes and events which have tested the mettle of this organization and demonstrated its true value. The principles, values and work of this organization – commitment to democracy and fundamental freedoms, fostering equality, advancing peace and promoting development – have been a passion for me for many decades. And since my election in June of 2005, I have continuously worked to build new partnerships in order to promote those principles and values. I have also promoted common action to achieve tangible results that improve the lives of the people of the Americas.

My vision for the next five years is guided by the vision and ideals of many, but in particular Simon Bolivar, and an abiding faith in the concept of unity in diversity. I have stated publicly my conviction that as a trusted space for consultation, negotiation and partnership, the OAS plays a critical role in the Americas. Even with the current and projected institutional architecture in the Americas for dialogue and consultation, I believe that the OAS is indispensable. In my view, it remains the only hemispheric political entity in the Americas with a broad mandate to strengthen peace and security of the continent, and to facilitate common action to address the many cross-border challenges our countries face.


Accomplishments

In the last two months, our hemisphere has suffered major natural disasters including devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. The OAS plays an important facilitating role in leveraging and coordinating relief assistance in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters. But we also play a crucial role in accompanying governments during these critical times of crisis to ensure continuity of governance and the rule of law.

For this reason, I have dedicated much attention on the issue of natural disaster response and mitigation over the last five years. I will continue to work tirelessly with the inter-American Institutions, namely the Inter-American Development Bank, the Pan American Health Organization, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, the Inter-American Defense Board, and affiliated entities, to improve relief and response mechanisms, as well as risk management and vulnerability reduction.

One of the most difficult times for me as Assistant Secretary General came in recent weeks. For me, having worked with the government and people of Haiti for more than a decade and having witnessed first-hand their resilience, and determination to triumph over adversity, I was deeply saddened by the extent of the tragedy and enormous loss of life. But at the same time, I was encouraged by the immediate and substantial response of Member States to a sister nation. And as I flew over Port-au-Prince and other affected areas, talked to the people in the streets and those providing critical relief, I was also reminded of the importance of the OAS and of political leadership. I left Haiti reenergized to use the office to which I am elected to make an even more significant difference in the lives of the Haitian people and the peoples of the Americas.

As Chair of the OAS Haiti Group of Friends and Haiti Task Force, I have worked to fulfill the hemisphere’s commitment to Haiti by providing concrete support to improving coordination on policy, planning and resource mobilization; matching international assistance with the priorities of the Haitian government and people; and maintaining international support for Haiti. These efforts have led to the creation of an Inter-American Program for Haiti, the first structured collaboration among all the inter-American agencies and donors providing support to that country. Haiti has to remain high on the political agenda of this organization and it is our obligation to continue advocating internationally for the need of the Haitian people.

With each challenge and every success, we not only move toward greater collaboration and partnership but also strengthen our democracies. I know that democracy is not always perfect but I believe firmly in the cause of democracy and democratic governance. This is why I was honored to serve as Chief of Mission for several electoral observation missions. In that capacity, I had the honor to observe electoral processes and facilitate political dialogue among key actors both during the pre- as well as post-election phase.

Since my election, I have worked to bring renewed emphasis and political visibility to the development pillar within the Organization. I have led the dialogue on development reform within the Organization based on my conviction that this would underscore the political priority of the development agenda given the inter-relationship that exists between democracy, development and security. I have worked with Member States to prioritize education, youth and social cohesion which are cornerstones of sustainable development. In this regard, I would like to mention two specific achievements:

 Firstly, the establishment of an inter-regional educational alliance network of schools and universities in the Caribbean and Central America which we hope to expand throughout the America.

 Secondly, the creation of the Inter-departmental Group on Youth which has been responsible for developing a Youth Strategy to mainstream youth into the OAS agenda.


Committed to Engagement and Effectiveness

While I am pleased to talk about what we have accomplished together over these five years, I believe it is important to focus on the way forward. Fundamentally, I believe that our organization has to focus on three Ps – People, Peace and Prosperity. The people of the Americas expect that the deliberations here and in the General Assembly result in decisions and actions that have a direct and positive impact on their daily lives. We must live up to those expectations.

The opportunities and the challenges we face in the future may be even more complex as our nations and our region become more integrated into the global community. As new forms of communication emerge and new structures are established, the issues we confront will increasingly have cross-national impacts that require coordinated responses.

So, let me now outline a few key areas which I believe are central to sustaining democratic governance and ensuring a better, peaceful and more prosperous future for the next generation of citizens.

I. Next-generation measures to strengthen and deepen democracy

a) I start with, in my view, the need for what I call “next generation measures” to strengthen and deepen democracy. One of the founding purposes of the OAS as stated in the OAS Charter is “To promote and consolidate representative democracy…” 62 years after the creation of the OAS, all of its active member states are governed by democratically elected governments. This is a major triumph for the organization. Democracy has created valuable space for public-private dialogue and has led to greater inclusion, particularly of traditionally marginalized groups.

b) I believe it is now time to begin talking about the “next-generation measures” to strengthen democracy and governance. Renewed efforts to strengthen and modernize state institutions. New measures that incorporate human rights as a fundamental part of the education and governance framework. New approaches with respect to the modernization of political systems and parties and sharing of best practices. Next generation measures that emphasize integral development as a fundamental part of democratic strengthening. Comprehensive strategies that pay particular attention to vulnerable economies and focus on the potential and aspirations of our citizens.

c) The OAS must work with member states as they seek to improve transparency and create real and effective mechanisms through which ordinary citizens may have a voice. The more effective use of new technologies to promote greater citizen participation is another important element of new generation measures. Individual governments are increasingly reaching out to their citizens to incorporate their input into decision making processes. So too must the OAS consistently engage with civil society and the business community in order to benefit from their input.

d) The modernization and deepening of our democracies is essential and these next generation measures will be necessary to maintain and build on gains achieved.

II. Advancing Development through Education and Capacity Building:

a) As our hemisphere repositions itself to be more competitive in a global community, I believe the OAS must assign greater political priority to the development agenda. Among other things, we must prioritize education as an essential cornerstone of sustainable development. I firmly believe we need a new approach that is truly multilateral and transformative in nature. An approach which is not only focused on trade and related arrangements but also takes into account the particular needs of countries at different stages of development; builds capacity; and harnesses the benefits of science and technology to address the globalization of our economies, the threat of climate change and poverty reduction. Our ability to reap the benefits of globalization will depend on the flexibility of our societies to adapt to changes in the business and labour markets, particularly in an environment of intense international competition and technological advances.

b) We must recognize that education is an important agent for change and a tool for knowledge generation. We therefore must dedicate more attention to the issue of youth at risk; promote training and mentoring programs, as well as entrepreneurship. I believe that we need to make a greater investment in women and youth. These two groups are key if we are to end the cycle of inter-generational transmission of poverty.


c) If we do not address successfully the educational and training challenges, economic growth, productivity and competitiveness will be adversely affected. Rather, we should strengthen the inter-regional educational network to share knowledge, expertise and bilingual training. These alliances will be critical for forming a cadre of new leaders in the Americas who have benefited from these cross-cultural educational experiences.

III. Security and Peacebuilding

a) These new public and private sector leaders will be better prepared to confront the range of traditional and non-traditional security threats, many of which are cross-border in nature. The cross-border nature of our current challenges such as transnational crime, terrorism, environmental degradation and natural disasters make hemispheric collaboration a must.

In this context, I believe governments must review how they can better create the conditions for stability and security through a more comprehensive security arrangement which prioritizes the social and economic needs of societies. I propose greater cooperation with respect to judicial reform, law enforcement and information sharing.

b) Within the framework of multidimensional security, our efforts must incorporate peace-building to address the sources of conflict in a more structured way.

c) I believe that we must maintain our commitment to the fight against illegal drugs, human and arms trafficking; organized crime and terrorism. But I also believe that we should pay greater attention to the growing challenge of crime and violence which threatens the security of our citizens. If we are to find real solutions, it is important to not only focus on law enforcement as a short term response, but also to:

 Understand the underlying causes of violence and crime
 Establish comprehensive, coordinated intervention at all levels
 Design, develop and promote violence prevention methods working with governments, private sector, families, schools and communities.

d) I believe that we should engage proactively and employ quiet diplomacy as an effective tool for assisting Member States to resolve disputes before they evolve into larger conflicts. I believe that the elected officials of this organization have a responsibility and an obligation to engage governments and the broad spectrum of actors within the framework of existing instruments. That process of engagement is essential so that we can be fully responsive to the political body as it takes informed decisions in situations of challenge or crisis.

IV. Modernization and Strengthening of the Institution

a) If the organization is to be able to respond in a decisive way to the challenges we face, the future requires a strong and enhanced OAS. Within the existing framework of our adopted principles and values, the OAS of the 21st century must become more adept in responding to the evolving marketplace of ideas, new styles of leadership, the changing needs and priorities of its member states. At the core of our new thinking must be an emphasis on people, the citizens of the Americas.

b) I propose that we place new and greater emphasis on multilateralism, building and strengthening partnerships with regional and international institutions as well as permanent observers. As we continue to strengthen the OAS, we must also revitalize the inter-American system and strengthen the collaboration between its principal institutions. However, to do this, genuine cooperation must form the basis of our hemispheric integration and development process.

c) As I said in 2005 when I first ran for office, “the financial difficulties that the OAS is encountering right now require urgent and special attention and deserve a permanent and satisfactory solution sooner rather than later.” That requirement is even more urgent today. Several options can be presented and discussed, including a review of the existing quota system; sourcing more funds from other participants in the OAS towards special or dedicated funds, and from those countries and organizations willing to finance the implementation of shared principles and objectives. In my view, creativity and bold decisions and partnerships will be required to achieve success.

d) I also believe that it is time to broaden and deepen the organization’s network of partners. Going forward, we need to work more closely with sub-regional groups, civil society, and the private sector. I am pleased to say that during the last five years, through steadfast commitment and support for the political bodies, we have succeeded in bringing the OAS closer to the people of the Americas.

e) During our term, we have worked closely with Member States to expand the organization’s global outreach. The Columbus Memorial Library’s participation in the World Digital Library has opened up a new line of communication, making the important deliberations, decisions and history of the OAS more readily available to millions of people who regularly access this site.

f) OAS Country Offices must also play an important role in the Organization’s outreach efforts. Over the last five years, we have worked hard to strengthen the OAS’ representational profile. This revitalization process began in 2006 with the bringing together of all OAS Representatives to exchange information, develop a coherent strategy and provide policy direction. This was the first such meeting in over 18 years. I am pleased to report that we also initiated a process of rotation to promote the highest quality of performance and delivery to Member States.

g) In that regard, I believe that our stewardship of the organization’s resources and our citizens’ trust is critical. Even before the economic crisis, my office began a process of streamlining. I felt then and am even more convinced now that we could improve service delivery to Member States. We began a process to modernize services and to utilize technology more extensively for meetings of the political body and for regular communication. That process, launched in 2007, has resulted in cost savings through reduced travel and increased productivity. Just as important, we have democratized access and brought the OAS to the people. Through the use of new technologies, citizens of the Americas have greater access to the organization and can now participate live in meetings taking place in Washington while they remain in their home countries. At the same time, we have succeeded in realizing significant cost savings by advancing a technology-based green approach to meeting management. In fact, the Secretariat has reduced paper use by over 75%. If I am given the chance to serve again, I am committed to delivering fully “green” meetings by 2013.


Statement of Commitment

Let me close by reiterating that, if given the opportunity to serve, I will fully rededicate myself to this organization, its Member States, the staff who serve this organization and the hemispheric village of citizens.

As we move forward, the OAS must retain the dynamism, insight, and the capacity to evolve with changing times without losing sight of its core values. It will be particularly important for the OAS to preserve its political and institutional integrity through political resolve and action, as well as operational efficiency. I am fully committed to a united hemisphere in which all member states can work together to advance the development of our peoples.

Chair, Members of the Permanent Council, I look forward to receiving your support and endorsement. I have the experience, the commitment, and the vision to help take this organization into the future and work under your guidance to further strengthen the inter-American system.

I thank you for your attention and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve the governments and people of the Americas.