The OAS participates in UN's global purpose as a South-North and South-South bridge

On February 13, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Secretary General of the institution, José Miguel Insulza, received the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Ban Ki-moon, in an official meeting at the headquarters of the hemispheric organization in Washington, DC.

Both welcomed the long collaboration between the two organizations and called for stronger ties. The multilateral agenda, the aid programs, the synergies for human rights, the combat against drugs, crime, and corruption, the assistance for elections' transparency and the consolidation of peace and security are common objectives they both pursue. Mr Ban, in his remarks before the OAS Permanent Council, paid tribute to the OAS as "the world's oldest regional organization" and stressed "the importance of an even deeper strategic partnership among us."

Mr Insulza replied that "the Americas and the United Nations have forged deep and broad cooperation ties, an unparalleled level of collaboration that dates from its creation." He cited the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) as a relevant instance of what the two organizations can make when joining their forces. In Haiti, "the region's countries adopted a predominant role, in a gesture of hemispheric solidarity with one of the founding nations of our two organizations," he said.

The two leaders also spoke about the role of the OAS in Colombia through the Mission to Support the Peace Process (MAPP/OEA), integration policies in the different sub-regions of the hemisphere, and issues related to hemispheric migration. Besides, DiploNews noticed, the last relevant information on Colombia from the UNSG bureau dates from September 2010 when Mr Ban has met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos only one month after he was elected. At the time, they principally discussed human rights, regional relations and drug trafficking.

"Colombia is the best example of how a regional organization, here the OAS, has somehow superseded the UN as the main interlocutor on important issues like transparency of elections and peace building," DiploNews commented. "The UN still plays an important role of course, but it comes third, after the OAS, first, and the United States government, second, whose Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) collaborates with the Colombian National Police and the Security Administration Department (DAS) against drug trafficking," our analysts added.

The strengthening of democratic institutions has increased the global influence of the Americas as a whole, Mr Ban stated. Such vitality, despite structural problems that persist including poverty and a high level of inequality, shows there is "great potential" for the two multilateral organizations "to strengthen the global partnership for development," Mr Ban explained.

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