OAS briefings are offered to
diplomats, government officials,
military officers, university
faculty, policy analysts and
students, as well as to the
general public. The briefings
are given by the Director of the
Department of External
Relations, Irene Klinger, and
senior specialists from the
various departments of the
organization. Briefings are
tailored to the specific
interests of the visiting
groups, covering political,
social, legal and economic
issues in the Americas as well
as the work of the organization.
These briefings include tours of
the facilities and an historical
overview of the organization.
For more information on OAS
briefings, please contact Irene
Klinger, Director, Department of
External Relations at (202)
458-6072 or
iklinger@oas.org
On December 12th the
Institutional Relations Section of the Department of
External Relations organized a briefing for 14
members of the Peruvian Army War College. The
participants received a tour of the Historic Main
Building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of
External Relations, and a comprehensive OAS briefing
by Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External
Relations. Also attending and addressing the members
was Minister Alejandro Riveros, Permanent
Representative of the Mission of Peru to the OAS.
NOVEMBER 28, 2006
On November 28th the
Institutional Relations Section of the Department of
External Relations organized a briefing for 54
members of the Chilean National War College ANEPE. The
participants received a tour of the Historic Main
Building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of
External Relations, and a comprehensive OAS briefing
by Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External
Relations. Ambassador Pedro Oyarce, Permanent
Representative of Chile to the OAS spoke on the role
of the Mission of Chile as a member of the
Organization and discussed the work and progress of
the Organization. The briefing included Democracy
issues with Pablo Gutiérrez, Chief of Staff,
Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs; Human
Rights with Mario Lopez, Senior Human Rights
Specialist, Secretariat to the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights; and Multidimensional
Security with Julio Rosenblatt, Section Chief, Gangs
from the Department of Public Security.
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
On November 8th, the
Institutional Relations Section of the Department of
External Relations organized an OAS briefing for 17
participants from the Phelps Stokes Fund on
“International Strategies for Defense and Security”.
The visitors received a tour of the Historic Main
Building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of
External Relations and a comprehensive OAS briefing
by Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External
Relations. James Mack, Officer in charge of the
Secretariat for Multidimensional Security and
Executive Secretary, Executive Secretariat of the
Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD),
gave a complete briefing on the specific units of
his Department; Carol Fuller, Executive Secretary,
Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, gave an
articulate briefing on the creation of CICTE and
stressed the importance of the work and programs
being carried out by the Inter-American Committee
against Terrorism.
NOVEMBER 7, 2006
On November 7th, the Institutional
Relations Section of the Department of External
Relations organized an OAS briefing for 20 Dutch United
Nations Students from the University of Leiden, the
Netherlands. The students received a tour of the
Historic Main Building by Aline Hommes, Specialist,
Department of External Relations and a comprehensive OAS
briefing by Irene Klinger, Director, Department of
External Relations, and Magdalena Talamas, Chief, Public
Relations. Barbara Kotschwar, Chief, Foreign Trade
Information Section, Department of Trade, Tourism and
Competitiveness gave them an overview on SICE, the OAS
Foreign Trade Information System website. The
Netherlands is one of the principal donors of the
Permanent Observer Countries to the Organization of
American States.
NOVEMBER 7, 2006
On November 7th the
Institutional Relations Section of the Department of
External Relations organized a briefing for 46 members
of the Guatemalan Command and General Staff College
(CEDESNA). The participants received a tour of the
Historic Main Building by Aline Hommes, Specialist,
Department of External Relations, and a comprehensive
OAS briefing by Irene Klinger, Director, Department of
External Relations. Mario Lopez, Senior Human Rights
Specialist, Secretariat to the Inter-American Commission
on Human Rights; and Abraham Stein, Deputy Executive
Secretary of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control
Commission, (CICAD) gave an overview on their respective
Departments. Ambassador Francisco Villagran de Leon,
Ambassador Juan Leon Alvarado, and Counselor Otto Perez
spoke about the importance of their work and
accomplishments as Permanent Representatives from the
Mission of Guatemala to the OAS
OCTOBER 24, 2006
On October
24th, the Institutional Relations Section
provided a tour and an OAS overview by Aline Hommes,
Specialist for 41 college students and 3 staff
members from the Lutheran College Washington
Semester. The visit also included a walk through
the underground tunnel painted by Uruguayan Artist
Carlos Páez Vilaró and a visit to the Art Museum of
the Americas.
OCTOBER 5, 2006
On October
5th, the Institutional Relations Section of the
Department of External Relations organized an OAS
briefing for 12 Chinese Participants from the Center
for the Study of Globalization at George Washington
University. The participants received a tour of the
Historic Main Building by Aline Hommes, Specialist,
Department of External Relations and a comprehensive
OAS briefing by Irene Klinger, Director, Department
of External Relations. The Briefing also included
the specific areas of Social Development with
Specialist Rosana Martinelli
and information on Science and
Technology by Specialist Maria Claudia
Camacho. Dr. Michael Bergeron, Director of the
Department of Education, Culture, Science and
Technology finalized the briefing with information
on his Department. The Permanent Representatives of
the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Mr.
Cai Rungwo and Mr. Ping Huiwo
also attended the briefing.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2006
On September
22nd, the Institutional Relations Section of the
Department of External Relations organized an OAS
briefing for 25 delegates from the Uruguayan Army War
College. The participants received an OAS tour and a
depth briefing by Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional
Relations
AUGUST 24, 2006
On August 24th,
the Institutional Relations Section of the Department of
External Relations organized an OAS briefing for 59
delegates from the Dominican Republic Military Institute of Higher Studies.
The participants received an OAS Overview briefing by
Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External
Relations and included specialized briefings by
Alexandra Barrantes, Specialist, Department for the
Promotion of Governance and on Human Rights with
Principal Specialist Mario Lopez. Mayerlyn Cordero,
Minister Counselor of the Permanent Mission of the
Dominican Republic to the OAS also participated in the
briefing.
AUGUST 18, 2006
On August 18th,
the Institutional Relations Section of the Department of
External Relations organized an OAS briefing for
Delphi International
with a project entitled the "Role of the Media
in U.S. Society" for eleven participants from Argentina,
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico,
Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The participants
received a tour of the Historic Main Building by Aline
Hommes, Specialist, Department of
External Relations and a comprehensive OAS briefing by
Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External
Relations. In addition, Freedom of the Press in Latin
America was addressed by Ignacio Alvarez, Special
Rapporteur for the Freedom of Expression of the
Inter-American Commission of Human Rights.
AUGUST
17, 2006
On August 17th,
the Institutional Relations Section organized a briefing
that was requested by The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for
their interns. They were given an OAS overview briefing
by Irene Klinger, Director of the Department of External
Relations. The visit also included a tour of the
Historic OAS Main Building conducted by Aline Hommes,
Specialist, Department of External Relations, an
excursion through the underground painted tunnel with
the theme “Roots of Peace” by Uruguayan Artist Carlos
Páez Vilaró, and a visit to the Art Museum of the
Americas.
AUGUST 16, 2006
On August 16th,
the Institutional Relations Section of the Department of
External Relations organized an OAS briefing for 56
delegates from the Dominican Republic Military Institute of Higher Studies.
The participants received an OAS Overview briefing by
Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External
Relations and included specialized briefings by
Alexandra Barrantes, Specialist, Department for the
Promotion of Governance, Human Rights with Principal
Specialist Ariel Dulitzky, Security Issues, Christopher
Hernandez-Roy, Director, Department of Public Security
and CICAD, Abraham Stein, Assistant Executive Secretary,
Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission. Mayerlyn
Cordero, Minister Counselor, Alternate Representative
and Flavio Medina, Counselor, Alternate Representative,
Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the OAS
also gave their perspectives on their role as Permanent
Representatives to the OAS.
JUNE 20, 2006
On June 20th,
the Institutional Relations section of the Department of
External Relations organized a briefing requested by
the American Council of
Young Political Leaders for a delegation of 12
Congressional Representatives from Argentina and
Uruguay. The participants received a briefing by Steven
Griner, Sr. Specialist, who is in charge of the OAS
Inter-American Forum on Political Parties.
JUNE 19, 2006
On June
19th, the Institutional Relations Section
organized a briefing that was requested by
The Washington
Center for Internships for 45 Junior
and Senior College Students. They were given an
OAS overview briefing by Aline Hommes,
Specialist, External Relations and a specialized
briefing by Richard Huber, Deputy Director of
the Department of Sustainable Development and
the Environment.
JUNE 14, 2006
On June
14th, the Institutional Relations Section
organized a briefing on the OAS that was
requested by the
Colombian War
College. The group was headed by Major
General Mario Correa and consisted of 37 members
of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police. They
were briefed by Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional
Relations, an OAS overview and they also
received specialized briefings by Maria Claudia
Pulido, Senior Specialist, Human Rights; Kevin
Newmeyer, Director of Programs and Principal
Specialist of CICTE; and Bautista Logioco,
Coordinator, OAS Mission to Support the Peace
Process in Colombia (MAPP/OEA)
JUNE 9,
2006
On June
9th, the Institutional Relations Section
organized a briefing on the OAS that was
requested by Brigadier General José L. Lozano
for 10 members of the
Inter American
Defense Board. They were briefed by
Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, an
OAS overview and they also received specialized
briefings by Mario López, Senior Specialist,
Human Rights; James Mack, Executive Secretary of
CICAD; Steven Monblatt, Executive Secretary of
CICTE; Luis Toro, Juridical Advisor,
International Law; Alexandra Barrantes,
Specialist in Governance; and Carl Case, Senior
Specialist in Demining.
MAY 15, 2006
On May
15, the OAS Institutional
Relations Section provided a
briefing including an
overview of the OAS by Jane
Thery and a review of the
OAS work on trade,
competitiveness and tourism
by Cesar Parga to
representatives of
The Times of India, the ZDF
of Germany, the Foreign
Service of the Philippines,
the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Zambia, TV3 News
of New Zealand, the Israeli
Labor Party, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Cambodia,
and the Indian Press Academy
of Andhra Pradesh.
