US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to arrive in Santo Domingo at noon today Monday, 13 June 2016 to join the Latin America and the Caribbean foreign relations ministers who are attending the 46th Organization of American States General Assembly. The regional meeting on the theme of institutional strengthening for sustainable development in the Americas opens at the National Theater in Santo Domingo at 7pm this evening, Monday, 13 June 2016. President Danilo Medina and Foreign Relations Minister Andres Navarro will be the hosts for the Dominican Republic at the opening.
While not on the official agenda, there is speculation that the regional talks with the 34 member countries could concentrate on the current political developments in Haiti and Venezuela in informal private talks of the attending foreign ministers. Nevertheless, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro has said the political situation in Venezuela and Haiti are not on the formal conference agenda. He said that the Venezuelan issue would be discussed at a separate meeting of the OAS Permanent Council, based in Washington, D.C., on 23 June 2016.
The 46th General Assembly is being attended by 28 ministers as heads of delegation, including 27 ministers of foreign affairs, 36 permanent observers, 92 delegates, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 567 participants from civil society, including 43 international organizations with 79 delegates, 29 private sector companies and 305 members of international media are also registered, for a total of 1,609 who have registered to attend this general assembly.
Assistant secretary general of the OAS Nestor Mendez said in a press conference that participants will review for signing:
American Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People
Plan of action for people of African descent in the Americas
At the closing of the event, a Declaration of Santo Domingo will be issued focusing on the institutional strengthening for sustainable development in the Americas.
Secretary general Luis Almagro also added to the agenda list that several studies related to protection of migrant workers will be reviewed during the assembly. As reported on 12 June 2016, Almagro met with representatives of civil society groups.
The formal work sessions of the assembly will take place Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 June 2016 at the newly built Ministry of Foreign Relations Convention Center with capacity for more than 3,500 people in three halls covering an area 4,500 square meters.
Drivers in the area are advised to avoid traveling from Correa y Cidron Street to the Malecon, and Abraham Lincoln to Maximo Gomez, as there will be traffic detours that could cause lengthy delays.
To follow the conference, see http://www.oas.org/
