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2nd Executive Committee Meeting
Bridgetown, Barbados
November 23 and 24, 2001

The Second Executive Committee Meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) was held in Barbados from November 23 to 24, 2001.

Participants from seven countries, representing the four sub-regions of the Americas, attended the meeting. (See Appendix I for the list of participants.)

The meeting was held in an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation.

Opening Proceedings

The meeting was opened by Mr. Bill Graham, M.P., Chair of the Forum. He thanked the meeting’s host, Mr. Tull, for his parliament’s hospitality.

Mr. Graham welcomed the members, including the new members, Mr. Ramiro De Leon Carpio from Guatemala, and Mr. Ciro Zepeda and Mr. Alejandro Marroquin from El Salvador. He also rued the untimely death of Mr. Gustavo Lang from Guatemala, and asked Mr. De Leon Carpio to transmit his condolences to his family.

Progress report of the arrangements for the Plenary Meeting – Mexico 2002

The Mexican delegate, Senator Hernández, informed the Committee about the preliminary arrangements for the next Plenary Meeting, to be held in Mexico City in March 2002. She explained that Mexico will take care of transportation within Mexico, while delegates will be responsible for their airfare and hotel charges.

It was agreed that the dates that would work well for the II Plenary Meeting are March 13 – 16, with arrival on the 13th, two full days of meetings, and a meeting of the Executive Committee the morning of the fourth day.

The Mexican delegate explained that the invitations will be sent not only to the Speakers of the legislatures, but also to the delegates who attended the last plenary meeting in Ottawa.

Discussion of the Theme of the Next Plenary Meeting

The Committee agreed that the theme which is currently invading the political atmosphere, not precisely terrorism but security, could be the guiding theme for the next plenary. Mr. Graham has suggested the title of “Security in the New Millennium: the Role of Legislators in Guaranteeing Increased Hemispheric Security.”

After debate, it was agreed that the working groups for the next Plenary Meeting would be as follows:

Working Group I: Organized Crime
This group will focus on the problems related to drug trafficking, arms trafficking and terrorism.

Working Group II: Migration
This group will discuss topics such as border security and a comprehensive approach of the social and economic phenomena of migration. It also will propose possible solutions to address the problems related with migration.

Working Group III: Legal Instruments in the Area of Security
This group will focus on the legal instruments in the area of security available to the member countries, as well as those pending ratification. It will also study the Inter-American Convention on Terrorism, that is currently been negotiated by the governments of the Americas, so that legislators will directly contribute to the development of this important legal instrument.

It was further agreed that papers be prepared on the subject matters of the working groups, and that experts in the subject matters of each working group make opening presentations to the working groups in order to orient debate toward the development of recommendations.

Furthermore, a presentation on “economic security” will be made at the Plenary Meeting, at which an analysis of the current state and principal points of FTAA negotiations will be provided. Such a presentation will be a standing item at all Plenary Meetings, so that legislators may provide follow-up to matters discussed at the Summits of the Americas, and particularly on the FTAA negotiations.

Presentation of the Executive Summary of the FTAA Document

Senator Hervieux-Payette of Canada presented an executive summary (prepared for various Canadian interest groups) of the principal document for the current FTAA negotiations. It was agreed that this executive summary be translated into the four languages and posted on the FIPA website in order that legislators may consult it.

Proposal to Clarify the Rules Regarding the Participation of Members

The Executive Committee considered a proposal to change the FIPA Regulations regarding the participation of members on the Executive Committee and the size of delegations to the Plenary Meetings.

Ratification of Executive Committee Members
In the Regulations of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas, Chapter III, section 2.3, add a new paragraph (h) as follows:

The national parliament, legislature or congress of each country elected as member of the Executive Committee shall be required to provide, by written communication to the Chair, the name of the parliamentary delegate who shall serve as its member on the Executive Committee, within 30 days following that country’s election to the Executive Committee. This delegate shall serve on the Executive Committee, subject to paragraph (i)*, for the entire term.”; and

redesignate paragraphs (h) to (l) as (i) to (m) accordingly.

Size of delegations attending the Plenary Meeting
In the Regulations of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas, Chapter III, paragraph 2.1(a), substitute the words:

…“have up to five members of parliament/congress (this limit does not apply to the host parliament),”

with the words

…“have up to twelve (12) members of parliament/congress (this limit does not apply to the host parliament),”.

It was agreed to present these amendments to the next Plenary Meeting for approval.

Proposal for Funding FIPA

Mr. Perina of the UPD distributed a document entitled “Project to Support the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) for the consideration of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)”.

Mr. Graham noted that when the FIPA was created, it was modeled after the APEC, which has no permanent secretariat and no revenue. FIPA has no revenue, but the costs are being borne by Canada, although this might be an issue in the future. Money for projects must be raised on an ad hoc basis.

After requesting from the UPD a much more detailed budget to obtain the proposed funding, it was agreed that the budget request be taken to CIDA.

Connectivity Project (Internet Portal)

The Committee reviewed the proposal prepared by the UPD for a “Virtual Parliament of the Americas”. Senator Hernandez described the objectives of the Internet portal, which would permit interactive communication between the parliamentarians, even eliminating the need to meet personally more than once a year.

The representatives of the UPD explained that there would be two functions to the portal, one to provide a static site of information on the FIPA, and the other would be for interactive communications and virtual meetings, even communication with the general public. Accordingly, the project will be developed in two stages: Phase I would create simple Internet information pages; and Phase II would provide the communications forum. They also noted that two things are needed to ensure the success of the portal: resources and the hours of work needed to get the site up before March. Finally, follow-up and maintenance will be required to keep the site useful and worthwhile.

Senator Hervieux-Payette explained that Canada is maintaining the site right now, but that it will eventually be transferred to a neutral site and that eventually all countries should have their parliaments as links on the site.

FIPA News Bulletin

Mr. Barney distributed a draft FIPA newsletter. The newsletter would have several regular features, including a section highlighting how the legislature of a given member country works. The production run will be of about 1000 copies, in colour and in the four official languages of the Forum.

Relations with Other Organizations

The Committee considered a letter received from Mrs. Beatriz Paredes, President of Parlatino, requesting vice-presidency status at the FIPA. The Chairman mentioned that several other parliamentary assemblies would like to have a relationship with the FIPA.It was noted that the Rules provide only for observers, not vice-presidencies.

It was agreed that Mr. Graham respond in writing to the President of Parlatino, stating that the Executive Committee will recommend to the plenary observer status for Parlatino pursuant to the FIPA Regulations, Chapter III, 2.3, l – 4. Other organizations and countries will be dealt with upon request, as the regulation states.

Cuba’s Participation in the FIPA

Mr. Graham summarized the decision taken at the last plenary meeting to include Cuba in the Caribbean group. Because FIPA invitations go to the Speakers of the legislatures, not to individuals, the possibility that the U.S. would officially choose not to participate if Cuba is invited was discussed. There was also consideration of the U.S. opposing the OAS (specifically the UPD) cooperating with the FIPA.

Various members expressed their concerns about the problem before the Committee.

Mr. Graham summarized that, with the exception of the concerns of the member from El Salvador, there was agreement that the decision by the Plenary to include Cuba could not be reversed, certainly not by the Executive acting on its own.

Attest this 24th day of November 2001 at Bridgetown, Barbados.

Bill Graham, M.P.
Chair of the Forum

Mateo Barney
Secretary to the Executive Committee

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