Michael Creed
Question:171 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his Department's policy objectives with regard to central and southern America. [21503/00]
Written Answers. - Latin American Policy.
As the political and economic importance of the Latin American region continues to grow, the focus of our policy toward central and southern America is to build closer bilateral relations with the countries of the region, and together with our partners in the European Union to forge a closer bi-regional relationship with Latin America as a whole.
The bi-regional relationship between the European Union and Latin America was given a new impetus by the success of the inaugural summit of heads of State and Government between the EU and the Latin America and the Caribbean, at Rio de Janeiro in June 1999. This summit agreed a declaration and action plan to establish a new strategic relationship between the two regions, based on compliance with international law, the strengthening of democracy and individual freedom and highlighting the universality of all human rights. This was later endorsed at the ministerial meetings between the EU and the countries of central and south America in Vilamoura, Portugal in February 2000, which reaffirmed the commitment to carry forward a broad range of priority actions in the political, economic, social, environmental, educational, cultural, technical and scientific spheres.
The increasing importance of the Latin American region is reflected in the strengthening of our bilateral relations with individual countries. In October 1999, an Irish Embassy was opened in Mexico city, with secondary accreditation to Colombia, Cuba, Peru and Venezuela. This is in addition to the long-standing mission in Buenos Aires, which also holds accreditation for Bolivia, Chile and Uruguay. This increase in diplomatic coverage will facilitate the development of closer bilateral relations with these countries.
In June 2000, as part of the process of broadening our relations with the Americas, Ireland applied for and was granted observer status at the Organisation of American States. This step, which formalises Ireland's relationship with the OAS, will facilitate the development of closer political and economic links with the member states of this key regional organisation.