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Jamaica admitted to Rio Group
Saturday, November 07, 2009
JAMAICA was Thursday admitted as the 25th member of the prestigious Rio Group at a meeting of the hemispheric body's foreign ministers at the Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, St James.
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| BAUGH. we have common goals and aspirations |
In his speech accepting the membership approval, Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr Kenneth Baugh, said Jamaica fully endorsed the objectives of the Rio Group, as a regional mechanism for dialogue and concerted political agreement. Jamaica also shares the commitment of the Group to the preservation of peace, the promotion of democratic values, respect for the rule of law and the fostering of multilateralism, he added.
"The Government of Jamaica certainly recognises the essential and unique role that the Rio Group plays for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean," Dr Baugh said.
"It is one of the most representative groupings of Latin American and Caribbean countries, and plays an invaluable role to strengthen the region's international presence, to enhance its influence in multilateral fora and to increase interaction with extra-regional states and group states," he said.
He expressed gratitude to the countries which supported Jamaica's entry, and said that his Government looked forward to working with Rio's member states.
"We have common goals and aspirations, so let us work together to ensure a better quality of life for all our peoples, and let us leave a legacy of unity and mutual respect of which future generations can be justly proud," Dr Baugh said.
He also praised the Rio Group for its role in strengthening the region's international presence.
The Rio Group was founded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1986 in response to what was then perceived as the United States' domination of the Organisation of American States (OAS).
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