CANADA CONCLUDES CHAIRMANSHIP OF SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS

June 9, 2003
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien issued today the following statement to mark the conclusion of Canada's chairmanship of the Summit of the Americas:

"Canada is honoured to have served as chair of the Summit of the Americas over the past three years. Together with our partners in the Hemisphere, we have made substantial progress in furthering democracy, strengthening human security and enhancing prosperity and social development. The adoption of the Inter-American Democratic Charter in September 2001 and the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism in June 2002, which Canada was the first to ratify, are particularly proud achievements and symbolize the value and commitment of countries in the Hemisphere working together. Today, Argentina takes over the tremendous privilege and responsibility of chair and Canada will work closely with Argentina and our other Hemispheric partners to continue to fulfill the promise of the Summit of the Americas."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham officially transferred the chair of the Summit of the Americas to Argentina today at the General Assembly of the Organization of American States meeting in Santiago, Chile. Canada's contributions to the Summit of the Americas during its tenure as chair since November 1999 are outlined in the publication "Commitments Made, Commitments Kept," which is available online at http://www.americascanada.org.

Initiated in 1994, the Summit of the Americas initiative brings together the democratically-elected leaders of 34 nations in the Hemisphere to address economic, social and political challenges. Ongoing work between the countries is being directed by the Plan of Action adopted at the Third Summit of the Americas which was held in Quebec City in April 2001. Argentina will host the Fourth Summit of the Americas in 2005.

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