OAS General Assembly to be held in Cancun instead of Mexico City

The Mexican government decided that Cancun, Quintana Roo, will host the next General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), due to security issues.

The Assembly, to be held from June 19 to 21, was scheduled to for Mexico City. According to diplomatic sources, after conducting a feasibility analysis, it was concluded that Mexico City presents complications due to the large number of demonstrators who make daily mobilizations.

On Wednesday May 10, the Mexican ambassador to the OAS, Luis Alfonso de Alba, presented to the Permanent Council of the agency the proposed change of venue for the 47th General Assembly.

De Alba indicated that for logistical reasons, Mexico would shift the meeting from Mexico City to Cancun, Quintana Roo, because it offers better conditions.

The core issue that led the Foreign Ministry to make the decision for a change was that on April 26 a group of farmworkers forcibly entered the headquarters building of Mexico’s Congress and held it for at least 3 hours, without letting people in and out.

This will be the first time an OAS General Assembly will be held in Mexico. The country has hosted previous extraordinary meetings of the body. The 47^th session of the General Assembly is attended by the foreign affairs ministers of the nations that integrate the organization. The invitations have already been circulated to each of the 34 nations that are within the OAS, including Cuba, whose rights were returned, although the island’s government has not wanted to return to its seat.

Also invited was Venezuela, a country that has just started its withdrawal process from the OAS and which will take at least 24 months to conclude its participation.

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs reported that 72 permanent observers were also invited to the Assembly, special guests and representatives of civil society, among others. The Assembly will be inaugurated by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

Source: www.eluniversal.com.mx

Comments

comments