MR TEK: Thank you and good day everyone. happy friday Welcome to today’s call to preview Minister Blinken’s upcoming trip to Colombia, Chile and Peru from 3-7 October. Our speakers today are Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and Marta Youth, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration.
This call is on record but blocked pending completion. We will have some time for questions at the end. And with that, I hand over to Assistant Secretary Nichols. Sir, please continue.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Thank you; and thank you all for joining us today for this preview of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Colombia, Chile and Peru. During this trip, Minister Blinken will meet with some of our closest partners in America to discuss a range of priorities, from migration to equity and inclusion to economic growth and development. The US delegation accompanying Secretary Blinken includes a number of officials from the White House, State Department, USAID and other agencies.
On October 3rd and 4th, Monday and Tuesday, Minister Blinken will meet President Gustavo Petro, Vice-President Francia Márquez and Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva in Colombia. The Minister will focus on our three key shared priorities: supporting strong democratic institutions, emphasizing respect for human rights across the region, and reaffirming the hemisphere’s regional and holistic approach to tackling irregular migration. Minister Blinken will also discuss efforts to tackle the climate crisis and drug trafficking that are affecting the region.
The Secretary will visit the “Fragmentos” exhibition at the National Museum of Colombia, which commemorates the end of Colombia’s internal conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia through the 2016 Peace Accords. Finally, he will visit the Migration Integration Center in Colombia to reiterate US support for Colombia’s policy of temporary protection for Venezuelan migrants, a real model for the region.
On October 5, Minister Blinken will meet President Gabriel Boric and Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola in Santiago, Chile.
He will reaffirm US support for democratic governance, bilateral trade and investment opportunities, our joint efforts to combat climate change, and regional security and migration management.
The minister will also visit Chile’s National Electric Coordinator, where US companies are helping to advance our shared goals of relying on renewable energy sources and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
He will also meet with alumni of the US-sponsored Young Leaders of the Americas initiative to discuss how their innovations are bringing economic growth and positive change to their communities.
On October 6, Secretary Blinken will travel to Lima, Peru to lead the US delegation to the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, where he will underscore US commitment to the OAS and this year’s theme, Together Against Inequality and Discrimination. The secretary will also include regional focal points on issues of common interest.
At the General Assembly, he will reaffirm the important role of the OAS in promoting democracy, human rights, sustainable development and security cooperation throughout the western hemisphere.
Minister Blinken will also discuss efforts to implement the Ninth Summit of the Americas commitment.
He will meet with Peruvian President Pedro Castillo and Foreign Minister Cesar Landa to discuss enhancing regional security, strengthening democratic governance, protecting the environment and promoting inclusive economic growth.
On the fringes of the OAS General Assembly, the Secretary will attend the Ministerial Meeting on Migration in Lima. My colleague, Assistant Secretary General Marta Youth, will provide further context in her remarks.
The General Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the Organization of American States. The United States remains committed to strengthening and working with the OAS. We have been an OAS member since its inception in 1948 and contribute over 50 percent of the organization’s annual budget.
Secretary Blinken will meet with OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro to discuss further cooperation to strengthen democratic institutions and promote social and economic inclusion in the region. They will also discuss OAS support for the implementation of political commitments made at the June 2022 Summit of the Americas.
The United States joins OAS member states in several key resolutions and statements: a statement calling on Russia to end its aggression in Ukraine; a resolution to hold the Nicaraguan regime accountable for its continued human rights abuses; a Haiti-led resolution on the security and political situation in Haiti; a statement on the human rights situation in Venezuela; and a resolution to advance our collective commitment to democracy and respect for human rights in America by promoting dialogue and collaboration among democratically elected legislators.
Colombia, Chile and Peru are among our closest partners in America. We look forward to inviting their leaders next week to discuss a range of shared priorities, from economic prosperity and security to migration and social inclusion for all people in our hemisphere. Many Thanks.
MR TEK: Thank you, Assistant Secretary Nichols. I now give the floor to Assistant Assistant Secretary Marta Youth.
MS JUGEND: Thank you. Good afternoon. I am very pleased to speak with Secretary of State Nichols today about Secretary Blinken’s forthcoming attendance at the Migration Ministers’ Meeting in Lima on October 6th. The United States and Peru are co-hosting this event, which follows previous ministerial meetings in Colombia and Panama over the past 12 months. As just mentioned, it will take place on the margins of the OAS General Assembly and will focus on the implementation of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.
This ministerial follows the presentation of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection in June. During this event, President Biden brought together 21 of the countries hardest hit by forced displacement and irregular migration across the western hemisphere to redefine how we will collectively respond to the unprecedented challenges facing our region.
The presentation of the declaration in Los Angeles was only the beginning. We recognize that there must be an ongoing framework for collaboration and action. That’s why countries across the region are banding together to implement the commitments made under the Los Angeles Declaration and hold each other accountable for further progress.
Last Friday, September 26, we officially presented the implementation framework for the Los Angeles Declaration at the White House. Each supporting country appoints a special coordinator to represent them in this process and to work with other supporting countries.
Next week’s event in Lima is the next milestone for the declaration. The supporting countries will provide information on their progress in implementing the commitments made so far. You will also make new commitments. Taken together, these commitments are concrete actions to help vulnerable migrants and communities across the region and establish regular pathways for safe, orderly and humane migration.
Addressing the challenges of irregular migration, protecting refugees and asylum-seekers, and providing legal avenues are top priorities for the Biden-Harris administration. Secretary Blinken intends to continue to highlight these priorities and to use the platform as an opportunity to stress the importance of continued and stronger regional engagement and shared responsibility for humane migration management.
Only one country cannot handle the moment alone. States will need the support of key partners to put the principles of the Declaration into action. The collaborative approach that serves as a basis for the Declaration extends to other stakeholders, and we seek to create avenues for meaningful engagement and advice from UN agencies and other international organizations, civil society, multilateral development banks and international financial institutions the private sector.
Thanks again for your time and I’m returning it to the MC.
MR TEK: Thank you, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Youth. Operator, before we start the questions, could you please repeat the instructions on how to join the question queue?
SERVANT: Yes, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, if you would like to ask a question, please press 1 and then 0 on your telephone keypad. You can withdraw your question at any time by repeating the 1-0 command. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up the handset before pressing the numbers. Again, if you have a question, you can press 1 and then 0 at this point.
MR TEK: Excellent. Thank you very much. Could we please go to Humeyra Pamuk’s line from Reuters?
QUESTION: Hello, thank you for that. Just two questions; one is slightly wider and the other is a follow up. You would probably dispute that, but there is widespread criticism that Washington has neglected this region. And I don’t mean that from the point of view of organizing summits, but in terms of concrete actions. And with that in mind, I’m wondering what the US message will be when it comes to the region’s growing cooperation with China? What will you tell them that the United States can offer to counter Beijing’s economic encroachment?
And just to follow up on something that Assistant Secretary Nichols said: I – the audio just dropped a bit, so I believe he mentioned an OAS resolution condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine in March. He referred to the one that was passed. Are there any plans for a new one, and do you plan for this to go further in the language than agreed? Or is he confident they can reiterate that given the recent leadership changes in the region? Many Thanks.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Thank you for that question and it’s an opportunity to talk about all the things we’re doing after the summit. We have never had stronger ties to this hemisphere. We have redoubled our efforts and support to help countries deal with migration challenges, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in new assistance to this hemisphere.
We will be in Colombia where we have invested over a billion dollars to help the Colombian people implement the 2016 peace agreement. We will be in Peru where they have received hundreds of millions of additional dollars in aid over the last few years to deal with the migration crisis they are facing – just like all of us. We cooperate on drug control, climate change issues and the wider environment; We support education and exchange. We will be a key partner for us on a range of issues in Santiago, Chile, where the United States remains one of the top investors in Chile – a vibrant economy. We work with Chile to address the global challenges of climate change and food insecurity.
In the Caribbean, we are actively engaged, led by the Vice President, in an effort they say has not been seen since the Reagan administration to address their concerns about energy, food security, climate and access to finance.
At the Summit of the Americas, we announced $50 billion in multilateral development bank financing for climate issues; and we’re seeing those investments already deployed across the hemisphere.
Minister Blinken has visited the region and has been active and committed, as have a number of senior officials. Obviously we hosted the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles; and every day we act to underscore our commitment to supporting our partners from the Arctic Circle in Canada to the tip of Tierra del Fuego.
Regarding the OAS General Assembly Resolution, I’m talking about general – new General Assembly Resolutions that will be discussed and approved during this session in Lima. So this is a new opportunity for our hemisphere to once again speak with one voice and say that the unprecedented, unjustified, inexcusable Russian invasion of Ukraine is unacceptable to the people of our hemisphere; and we are a hemisphere that respects democracy, the rule of law and international borders. And we will continue to insist as we deal with other parts of the hemisphere.
I could go on but I think I’ll stop here.
MR TEK: Great. Thank you very much sir. Operator, could we get Voice of America’s Jaime Moreno on the line, please?
OPERATOR: He’s not in the queue. Please press 1 and then 0 to enter the queue.
MR TEK: Oh, okay. I see – okay, that’s right. He seems – looks like he’s been deposed. Could we go to Thiago Amancio from Folha de São Paulo?
OPERATOR: Yes, your line is open.
QUESTION: Hello. Hi. Many Thanks. So, Minister Blinken is going to South America the day after the Brazilian presidential election, and he’s not going to Brazil. I would like to know why – whether this is related to threats by President Bolsonaro against the Brazilian electoral system; and I would also like to know if the State Department is concerned about democracy in Brazil and if the Department will immediately recognize the winner of the vote.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Thank you, and Minister Blinken addressed the issue of elections in Brazil earlier today and expressed our strong respect and support for Brazilian institutions, particularly the electoral institutions. We have a close and active relationship with Brazil. We deeply respect our Brazilian colleagues and the right of the Brazilian people to choose their own leaders. We’ll be following the elections with interest, but we’re not going to send a message if we don’t go at this point, when Brazil is really in – in the midst of a very active electoral process; and I think we owe it to our Brazilian colleagues to let them continue with their activities around this process. Of course, we expect to contact whoever the Brazilian people decide as soon as possible and emphasize the hand of friendship and strong cooperation that we have with Brazil.
MR TEK: Thank you. Operator, I think I see Jaime back in line. Can we call him now?
QUESTION: Any specific proposal by Secretary Blinken to Colombian President Gustavo Petro to reduce the coca harvest in Colombia, considering that Colombian President Gustavo Petro has strongly criticized the approach to the coca trade in Colombia in the United Nations?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: So we’re working closely and continuously with the Colombian government on drug issues. The United States strongly supports a health and science-based approach to drug control. This is reflected in a policy in support of rural development and rural security in Colombia, and we believe President Petro strongly shares this goal. We believe that the ban is an important tool in this process. We believe rural livelihoods need to be strengthened to provide people with legal alternatives. And as the Petro administration works out the details of its approach and any changes it wishes to make, we will continue to be a steadfast partner to President Petro and his administration.
MR TEK: Thank you. Could we please go to the line of Leon Bruneau from AFP?
QUESTION: Yes, hello, thanks for the briefing. I was wondering if there is a specific message you are sending with your trip – the minister is going to three countries with left-wing leaders – newly elected leaders: Colombia, Chile and further back in Peru. So I was wondering if there was a message behind it. Why the choice of these three countries at this time? And of course, who knows what will happen in Brazil, but it could be another return of a left-wing president. So please give your opinion on this.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Thank you. A year ago, in Quito, Ecuador, the minister spoke about our hemisphere and our United States commitment to democracy. We don’t judge countries by where they fall on the political spectrum, but rather by their commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights. And I would like to note that we also visit three countries that have long been important trading partners of the United States, countries that have free trade agreements with the United States, countries that have a long history of exchanges with the United States. Last year we celebrated 200 years of bilateral relations with Colombia. And this year we’re doing that with Chile and Peru.
Focusing on and strengthening our relationships with these governments, we use the OAS General Assembly in Lima, Peru to visit the region and share our shared goals of addressing issues such as inequality and access to healthcare. better access to education; ensure our policies support bottom-up and center-out growth, as President Biden says.
MR TEK: Great. Thank you very much. I think we still have time for one more question and it goes to Juan Merlano from Caracol TV.
QUESTION: Hello. Many Thanks. Deputy Secretary, just one question regarding the resolution you intended to introduce at the OAS General Assembly on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Do you hope that Colombia will support this resolution? Would you be – would you be disappointed if they were not supported – considering that President Petro said a few days ago that sending arms to Ukraine could escalate the conflict and he says that in this war there are two narratives exist? Hope – wait for Colombia’s strong support for this resolution?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: We hope for the strong support of all OAS member states for the resolution on Ukraine – on Haiti – Nicaragua. We believe that we are committed to democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights; The idea that a country cannot simply invade another country, call a mock referendum, and then annex its territory is something I believe all nations in our hemisphere should be able to support. And we look forward to working with all of these — the countries in the OAS — to reach agreement on a strong set of resolutions that uphold the values of the inter-American system.
MR TEK: Thank you. Unfortunately, that’s all we have for today’s call. Thank you for joining us today. As a reminder, this call has been logged and is blocked pending completion which will be shortly. Thank you again for joining us and we’ll be chatting with you again soon. Many Thanks.
