Jan-Dec 2008 - Organization of American States

esolution were approved with guidance for and priorities of the 2009-2010 work plan of the
Inter-American Committee on Culture (CIC).
Subsidiary organs of the CIDI
a) Permanent Executive Committee of the CIDI (CEPCIDI)
From January to May 2008, Ambassador Abigail Castro de Pérez, Permanent Representative of
El Salvador, and Ambassador Efrén A. Cocios, Permanent Representative of Ecuador, served as
Chair and Vice Chair of CEPCIDI; as of May, Ambassador Cocios became Chair, and
Ambassador Cornelius A. Smith, Permanent Representative of the Bahamas, became Vice Chair.
Throughout 2008, CEPCIDI focused on self-examination and consultation to find ways to
strengthen partnership for development, in furtherance of the mandates contained in resolution
AG/RES. 2390 (XXXVIII-O/08) “Strengthening Partnership for Development: Policy Dialogue,
Technical Cooperation, Structure and Mechanisms, which reiterates and renews the contents and
pending mandates of the resolutions approved on this subject in 2007. Various special meetings
were held, as was a “retreat” of ambassadors and permanent representatives. At the end of these
meetings, a CEPCIDI Working Group was formed to consider the various alternatives for
strengthening CIDI and its organs and improving their functioning. Chairing the Working Group
was the Alternate Delegate of the United States, Margarita Riva-Geoghehan.
CEPCIDI assisted with preparations for the ministerial meetings and the Inter-American Meeting
on Improving the Availability of, and Access to, Safe Drinking Water” and the Special Technical
Meeting of National Cooperation Authorities and Experts” (Cancun, Mexico, October 16-17).
After receiving the report of the meeting on technical partnership for integral development,
CEPCIDI approved resolution CEPCIDI/RES. 152 (XVII-E/08) in which it endorsed the Playa
del Carmen Course of Action, approved in Cancun, and underscored the importance of
consolidating the IACD as a forum in which national authorities and experts in technical
cooperation can engage in dialogue and consultation to drive an effective technical-political
hemispheric agenda that emphasizes the OAS’ value added and contributes to the process of
reflection and consultation to strengthen CIDI.
In 2008, CEPCIDI partnered with the Permanent Council in two Joint Working Groups: the first
dedicated to the Draft Social Charter of the Americas, and the second to negotiate the Draft
Declaration of Medellín: Youth and Democratic Values.
b) Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development
The IACD’s Management Board held its Twenty-first Regular Meeting (Washington, May 12),
with Maestro Máximo Romero Jiménez, Director General of Technical and Scientific
Cooperation of the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, presiding. The following FEMCIDI
2007 Partnership Programming was approved.
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