MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Dominican assumes presidency of OAS Permanent Council

The Dominican Republic's new ambassador to the Organization of American States, OAS, Roberto Alvarez on Friday assumed the presidency of the Permanent Council promising to develop “an agenda of consensus to deal with the hemisphere's great challenges”

Mr. Alvarez, who will hold the post for a three month period replaces Peru's representative to the Organization of American States, Alberto Borea.

"Assuming the presidency ... is a privilege and a challenge at such an important time when there has been a change of the secretary general, and there are great expectations with the arrival of Jose Miguel Insulza" said the Dominican diplomat, referring to the new Chilean OAS chief.

Mr. Alvarez will have the responsibility of preparing for the next Summit of the Americas, to be held in Argentina in November.

In his speech before the Permanent Council as his country's new OAS envoy, Mr. Alvarez urged member states to seek a rapid solution to the "alarming" and advancing political crisis in Haiti.

He also asked the United States to include Haiti in the CAFTA-DR free trade agreement it signed with Central America and the Dominican Republic, and urged U.S. Congress to approve the treaty "in the next few weeks".

The U.S. Senate last Thursday approved the free trade agreement, but it still must be debated in the House of Representatives where great opposition is expected.