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08 June 1998

TEXT: OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS SOUTH ASIA NUCLEAR TESTS

(Urges restraint on both India and Pakistan)  (830)
CARACAS -- Following is the text of the Organization of American
States (OAS) press release on the General Assembly's June 3 resolution
condemning the nuclear tests carried out recently by India and
Pakistan:
(begin text)
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
XXVIII General Assembly
Caracas, Venezuela
OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS NUCLEAR TESTS
June 3, 1998
Caracas, Venezuela
The General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS)
today condemned the recent nuclear tests carried out by the
governments of India and Pakistan, and firmly urged both countries to
refrain from further such testing.
The resolution, approved in the General Assembly's final plenary
session, states that the nuclear tests "jeopardize the regime on
non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the maintenance of which is
indispensable for international peace and security." It also urges all
countries, in particular those of South Asia, "to exercise maximum
restraint and refrain from further nuclear testing."
The resolution reaffirms the commitment of all OAS member countries to
work toward universal adherence to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
on Nuclear Weapons and to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
and its early entry into force, "considering these essential elements
to avoid the proliferation of nuclear weapons and as a means of
promoting nuclear disarmament."
In another of several resolutions approved during Wednesday's session,
the General Assembly decided to establish a joint working group of the
Permanent Council and the Inter-American Council for Integral
Development "for the purpose of identifying the aspects with regard to
which it is necessary to foster and intensify the process of
strengthening and modernizing the OAS by defining strategies,
procedures, and concrete actions with a view to promoting a
comprehensive renewal of the inter-American system."
The heads of delegation also agreed to convene a meeting of experts
from member states to design a draft program of education for peace in
the hemisphere, recalling the "laudable initiative" taken by Bolivia
to draft such a program as a means to promote confidence and security
in the region. The creation of the draft program will take into
account contributions from UNESCO and other pertinent institutions,
including the Inter-American Defense College.
Another resolution approved in the final plenary session refers to the
situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in the
Americas. It urges governments "to continue ensuring the observance of
the fundamental principles and norms of international. refugee
protection, and specifically the respect of the principle of
'non-refoulement,' the right of refugees to seek and receive
protection and refuge within the existing legal framework in each
member state, as well as the right to return voluntarily to the
country of origin or the country of permanent residence."
The General Assembly also approved a resolution designed to promote
dialogue among legislative leaders through a parliamentary network of
the Americas, with the goal of increasing participation by civil
society in public issues. The OAS General Secretariat was instructed
to facilitate parliamentary dialogue as appropriate, and
parliamentarians of the hemisphere were encouraged "to support the
process of regional integration at all levels for the improvement of
political, economic, social and cultural conditions of the populations
which they represent."
The General Assembly also reiterated its support for the work that
"ombudsmen, defenders of the people, defenders of the population,
human rights attorneys and human rights commissioners" have been
carrying out in the hemisphere, noting that such work "is essential to
strengthening representative democracy, justice, human rights and
governability."
In other business, the General Assembly elected three new members of
the Inter-American Juridical Committee: Sergio Gonzalez Galvez, Mexico
(27 votes); Joao Granadino Rodas, Brazil (22 votes); and Orlando Ruben
Rebagliatti, Argentina (20 votes). Vctor Caso Lay, of Peru, was
elected by acclamation as member of the Board of External Auditors,
and Lionel Alain Dupuis, of Canada, was elected by acclamation as
member of the Administrative Tribunal.
The General Assembly approved the entry of Antigua and Barbuda, and
Saint Kitts and Nevis, as new members of the Inter-American Drug Abuse
Control Commission (CICAD). The Assembly also accepted the offers of
Costa Rica and Barbados to serve as host countries for the OAS General
Assembly in 2001 and 2002, respectively. The annual meeting will be
held in Guatemala next year and in Canada in the year 2000.
Shortly before the closing ceremony, the heads of delegation approved
a Declaration on Guyana, urging all political parties in that country
to accept the results of an audit related to Guyana's general and
regional elections held last December. The audit was conducted under
an agreement negotiated by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) between
the government and the main opposition party, after the opposition
rejected the election results declared by the Electoral Commission.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Burelli Rivas, who chaired
this year's General Assembly, formally closed the three-day session
early this afternoon.
(end text)