(No. 254 - September 6, 2011 - 2:55 p.m. ET) The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs), participated in the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, in Valparaíso, Chile, on September 3 and 4, 2011.
“A decade after its signature in Lima, Peru, the Inter-American Democratic Charter continues to stand as one of the hemisphere’s most remarkable collective achievements,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “Our commitment to the Charter and its principles is as strong today as it was 10 years ago.”
The Charter seeks to strengthen and sustain democratic institutions in the Americas. It was adopted on September 11, 2001, at a special session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States.
“Canadians recently gave our government a strong mandate to secure Canada’s economic recovery, and a secure hemisphere supports this objective. Canada’s engagement in the Americas focuses on democratic governance, prosperity and security. Democracy, if it is to be durable, requires nurturing, improvement and oversight,” added the Minister of State. “It is a continuous work-in-progress.”
While in Chile, Minister of State Ablonczy also met with Fernando Schmidt, Chile’s Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, and together they reviewed the bilateral cooperation agenda and discussed issues of mutual interest, including Haiti. In addition, the Minister of State visited a Canadian-supported development project at an after-school program for at-risk youth and participated in a round-table discussion with leading Canadian investors active in Chile.
“Canada and Chile enjoy a broad and multifaceted relationship anchored in shared values, including a commitment to democracy and human rights, open markets and multilateral cooperation to address global peace and security challenges. These shared values benefit Chilean and Canadian families,” said Minister of State Ablonczy.
“Chile has been a model for the region through its democratic transitions, economic openness and fiscal responsibility,” added the Minister of State. “As South America’s only member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Chile has much to contribute to the region as it charts its own path toward more equitable development. Canada will continue to be a strong partner for Chile as it works toward this goal.”
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