PRESS CONFERENCE BY BOLIVIA
Press Briefing
PRESS CONFERENCE BY BOLIVIA
19960930
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
Antonio Aranibar Quiroga, Bolivia's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Secretary pro tempore of the Rio Group, told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference Friday afternoon that the "Rio Group" had completed an ambitious schedule of meetings during the first week of general debate in the General Assembly.
Mr. Quiroga said that the meetings comprised an integral part of the political dialogue between the Rio Group and other countries, and regions. He added that the meetings had provided an opportunity for a fruitful exchange of information and views on a wide spectrum of issues.
The Rio Group is currently comprised of representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, Panama and one representative each from Central America (Costa Rica), and the Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago).
Mr. Quiroga said that the most recent meetings had been held within the context established by the Tenth Declaration of Heads of State of the Rio Group, held from 3 to 4 September 1996, in Conchabamba, Bolivia. The meetings that involved all Ministers of the Rio Group included Japan, the European Union and China. A smaller number of Rio Group ministers and coordinators had met with the Commonwealth of Independent States, Asian Countries, Canada, Australia, India and the Republic of Korea. In addition, Mr. Quiroga said that he had met with the President of the Group of 77.
A majority of the meetings had been a continuation of past dialogues, Mr. Quiroga said, except for those with Australia and the Republic of Korea, which were the initial meetings of the year. In virtually all instances, the Rio Group had achieved increased trade and investment, and all countries involved had reaffirmed their will to consolidate and expand, political and economic ties.
Asked about the condition of relations between the Rio Group and the European Union, Mr. Quiroga said they could not be better. Foreign Affairs Ministers had participated in the meetings on a broad level and substantial progress had been achieved in deepening inter-regional relations and strengthening ties of cooperation. He said the two sides had discussed many issues, including sustainable development, trade, investment and the battle against drugs and drug-related crimes.
A correspondent asked why the Rio Group had not scheduled a meeting with the United States. Mr. Quiroga said that while there had never been a specific meeting or institutionalized dialogue with the United States during the ten years the Rio Group has been existence, the countries that determined the Rio Group's position were in constant dialogue with the United States. Those dialogues occurred in the bodies where inter-American interests were pursued and carried forth, such as the Summit on Sustainable Development (Miami, December 1994).
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