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| Report of the 10th Executive Committee Meeting 1. Introduction The meeting was attended by eight of the ten members of the Executive Committee, representing all the subregions of the hemisphere (see Appendix 1 for a list of participants). The main goals of the meeting were as follows: follow up on procedures for incorporation of FIPA as a legal entity; establish strategies for collecting members' contributions and financing the organization; present the action plans for the permanent working groups; set the dates, and discuss preparations, for the next Plenary Meeting; and discuss progress on the Virtual Parliament of the Americas project. 2. Opening of the meeting and approval of the agenda Next, the President went over the agenda and submitted it to the members for consideration. On a motion by the delegate from Argentina, the agenda was approved by the Committee members and the proceedings began. 3. Election of the board of directors of the FIPA legal
entity She further explained that, in order to fulfill the legal requirements, it was necessary to proceed with the election of the corporation's board of directors and officers. Accordingly, on a motion by the delegate from Argentina, the following individuals were elected as directors and officers of the corporation: Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette - Director - Chairman 4. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the
Parliamentary Center Mr. Miller explained that the Parliamentary Center is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization specializing in improving parliamentary efficiency. The Center is based in Ottawa and conducts programs to strengthen legislatures in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Canada. Mr. Miller presented the draft memorandum of understanding between the two organizations, noting the Parliamentary Center's commitment to acting as an employer of FIPA staff and to assuming administrative responsibilities for operation of the Secretariat. On a motion by the representative from Mexico, the Executive Committee members approved the memorandum of understanding with the Parliamentary Center, which was then signed by the President of FIPA and the director of the Parliamentary Center. 5. Consideration and approval of the operating budget The Committee members considered and approved the operating budget presented by the Technical Secretariat and shown in Appendix 2. 6. Collection of contributions and funding of projects With regard to other sources of funding, the Executive Secretary reported that contributions have been received from the Government of Canada via the Department of Foreign Affairs, and that negotiations are under way with the Canadian International Development Agency. As a strategy for obtaining member countries' contributions, it was agreed that the collection follow-up would be divided by region, with each Executive Committee member being responsible for a group of countries, so as to bolster the Secretariat's efforts. On the subject of financing of FIPA working-group projects and activities, it was agreed that each group would seek its own financing, in coordination with the Technical Secretariat and with the approval of the Executive Committee. This decision was taken in the hope of gaining access to institutions interested in cooperating on specific issues of interest to FIPA. Lastly, the members entrusted the President of FIPA with the task of exploring the possibility of support from multilateral financing institutions, particularly the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank. As well, the Committee members undertook to support the President's efforts through the delegates from their respective countries who are members of such institutions. 7. Action Plans for Working Groups 7.1 The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Working
Group Mr. Boudria explained that this program is being implemented to follow up the recommendations of the FTAA Working Group, in particular those that seek to promote information sharing on international trade issues. Committee members discussed the proposal, stressing the importance of keeping the differences between the various economies in mind when developing the programs and the need to present the trade integration alternatives for the hemisphere. Finally, the Committee members approved the proposal and asked Mr. Boudria to proceed with this initiative. 7.2 The Working Group on Terrorism 1. Promote ratification of the Inter-American Convention against Terrorism, encouraging parliamentarians in those countries which have not yet ratified it to do so promptly. Also, promote the adoption, ratification and implementation of the 12 UN instruments on this subject. 2. Meet with the new Secretary General of the OAS, to discuss how FIPA's network of parliamentarians can work with the OAS to advance hemispheric issues. 3. Promote discussion of terrorism to help educate the public on the multifaceted nature of this scourge. In this regard, the recommendation of the delegate from Paraguay, Senator Alejandro Velásquez, to include a section on this topic in FIPA's Virtual Parliament was adopted. 4. Organize an inter-American essay contest on what society can do to prevent and combat terrorism. This contest is intended for university students in FIPA member countries and the prize for the winners would include an invitation to present their papers at the next Plenary Assembly. 5. Explore the possibility of holding an inter-American parliamentary summit that would bring together regional parliamentary organizations to exchange opinions on this subject and make commitments to promote the signing and ratification of legal instruments in this field. Executive Committee members agreed on the work plan and asked Senator Hernández to proceed with this initiative. 7.3 The Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas Committee members discussed and approved the work plan and proposed that the first subregional seminar be held in Argentina, preferably the first week of November, and the second one in Barbados in early February 2005. 8. Discussion of Preparations for the Next Plenary Assembly
in Brazil After hearing various positions, members agreed that the Fourth Plenary Assembly would be held on May 5, 6 and 7, 2005 in the Congress of Brazil. The work program will be similar to the one for the last Plenary Assembly; the working groups will deliberate for two days and on the third day their reports and recommendations will be presented. Concerning the agenda for the Assembly, it was decided that the working groups would discuss the following topics: Foreign Debt and Financing of Countries This working group will build on the discussions of the group on financial crises which met at the Second Plenary Assembly in Panama. They hope to have speakers from the academic, public and private sectors to ensure that the group's recommendations consider different points of view. Security and Human Rights Therefore the agenda of this working group will be determined based on this new approach and will also include follow?up of the work plan developed by Senator Silvia Hernández of Mexico. Negotiating the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) 9. Update on the Virtual Parliament Project Mr. Barney also explained that a proposal is being drafted to obtain financing for the second phase of the project, which is to actively involve users of the Virtual Parliament through the development of various services. The second phase of the project also calls for a meeting of informatics officials from the FIPA member parliaments to enable them to participate in the design and implementation of the Virtual Parliament of the Americas while at the same time benefiting from the knowledge and experience of their colleagues. The members of the Executive Committee supported the initiatives proposed for the second phase of the project and emphasized the importance of promoting use of the system among the FIPA member parliaments and those present. They also supported the idea of holding a meeting of informatics officials from the FIPA member parliaments. 10. Contribution by FIPA to the situation in Haiti To that effect, the Committee members decided to explore the possibility of sending a FIPA parliamentary mission to Haiti to allow parliamentarians from other countries to share their experience in development of the democratic process and to help the various players on the political scene in Haiti arrive at coordinated solutions. To organize that parliamentary mission, consultations will be held with members of the OAS and with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Haiti, Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdés. The goal of this is to ensure that the FIPA initiative constitutes a positive contribution to the efforts being made by multilateral bodies in that country. 11. Other matters put forth by members
12. Annexes 12.1 Annex1 - Participants Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette (CANADA) Mateo Barney (CANADA) NORTH AMERICA CENTRAL AMERICA CARIBBEAN SOUTH AMERICA HOST COUNTRY FOR THE PLENARY MEETING OTHER PARTICIPANTS |
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