June, 7 - 7:49 AM
O.A.S. countries to take technology’s benefits to the people
General Assembly concludes in Dominican Republic
SANTO DOMINGO.- The 34 Organization of American States (O.A.S.) member countries last night made a commitment to take the benefits of technology to their citizens, via the approval of the Declaration of Santo Domingo. The document stressed the importance of information and communication technologies because it contributes to equitable development and governance.
The Foreign ministers of the Americas -gathered in the Dominican capital- approved the proclamation at 8:15 p.m. and its primary target is to spur the access to the new technologies as a way to reach the development of the nations, to bolster governance and promote and protect human rights, addressing the main summit’s main topic "Governamnce and Development in the Society of Knowledge."
In the document, the countries are committed to improve and extend the programs and initiatives oriented to reduce the inequalities and poverty that bolster democratic institutionality in the region, leaning on the Information and Communication Technologies as development tools.
After intense debates, the general assembly approved 18 resolutions and two declarations and left on the table five projects that were sent to the O.A.S. permanent commission for study.
Other topics addressed in the last day of sessions were the report rendered by the Inter-American Commission on Human rights with references to Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador and Colombia, the difficult financial situation that the O.A.S. faces, the suggestions that carry out the first hemispheric report on the anticorruption mechanism for the 28 member countries, Argentina’s claim over the Falkland islands and Chile’s and Bolivia’s willingness to initiate a dialogue on the right of the latter country’s access to the sea.
In addition to the declaration of Santo Domingo, the assembly accepted Colombia as host country for the 38th Session and Honduras to organize the 39th.
Last Monday, the assembly named Panama as host \country of the next period in 2007.
Dominican Today - Portal Alta Tecnologia
