Jan-Dec 2008 - Organization of American States

Group of Friends of the Columbus Memorial Library
The Group of Friends of the Library was established in 1994 and is mainly composed of the
ambassadors with the permanent missions and permanent observer missions. The Group met
frequently in 2008 and various ceremonies were held at the Library to receive book donations. A
forum was also held.
At the Permanent Council meeting held on December 17, 2008, Ambassador Arístides Royo,
Permanent Representative of Panama, handed over the chair of the Group to Ambassador José
Enrique Castillo Barrantes, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica. The Columbus Memorial
Library is grateful to Ambassador Royo for his invaluable efforts in support of the Library’s
programs.
2.2.1.4 Inter-American Committee on Ports
The Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) was established by the General Assembly in its
resolution AG/RES. 1573, adopted at the twenty-eighth regular session. Its purpose is to serve as the
permanent inter-American forum of the member states of the Organization for strengthening
cooperation in the development of the port sector, with the active participation and collaboration of
the private sector.
To comply with the mandates from the General Assembly, the Summits of the Americas, the Meeting
of Ministers for the Western Hemisphere Transport Initiative (WHTI), the Inter-American Council
for Integral Development (CIDI) and its Plan of Action 2008-2011, the Committee conducted the
following activities in 2008, aimed at strengthening port-related dialogue within the inter-American
system, cooperation for port development, and dissemination and promotion of the ports of the
Americas and the Committee itself.
Strengthening the inter-American port dialogue
The CIP is a unique forum for dialogue among the highest ranking government port authorities of the
countries of the Americas. That dialogue is crucial to fulfilling the mandates given by the authorities
mentioned above and by other forums and bodies in the port sector of the Americas. Accordingly,
the Secretariat of the CIP organized and facilitated holding of the Third Hemispheric Conference on
Port Protection (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, April 2008), with the support of the Cuerpo
Especializado en Seguridad Portuaria (CECEP) [Specialized Port Security Corps] and the
Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM). Also held at the same time was the Eleventh Meeting of
the Technical Advisory Committee on Port Security, chaired by the United States.
Cooperation for port development
Activities of three types were carried out: training, direct technical assistance, and regional
cooperation, all geared to modernizing and developing the ports of the Hemisphere.
Training
Training is the CIP’s principal cooperative activity and is aimed at incentivizing, promoting, and
developing training programs that raise academic standards and technical expertise of port personnel
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