January 8, 2015 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Canada’s joining the Organization of American States (OAS):
“I am proud to mark 25 years of Canadian partnership with the countries of the Americas through the OAS. Canada’s membership in the hemisphere’s premier multilateral forum has provided us with a key channel for cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean partners on mutual priorities, such as safeguarding and promoting freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
“Canada’s membership in the OAS is an integral part of its engagement in the Americas, and Canada’s leadership in the OAS has helped strengthen security and democracy in the hemisphere.
“Since becoming a full member of the OAS, Canada has made important contributions to some of the organization’s greatest collective achievements, such as the establishment of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and the elaboration of the Declaration on Security in the Americas.
“Today, 25 years later, advancing democracy and human rights is more than ever a cornerstone of Canada’s engagement at the OAS, in the Americas and beyond.”
For further information on Canada and the OAS, please see Canada and the Organization of American States.
For more information on Canada’s engagement in the Americas, please visit The Americas: Our Neighbours, Our Priority and Panorama.
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