DECISION No. 415

2000 WORK PROGRAMME OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OF SELA

THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNCIL,

HAVING SEEN:

Article 15, paragraph 6 of the Panama Convention, and

The Document “Proposed Work Programme for the Year 2000” (SP/CL/XXV.O/DT No. 4) submitted by the Permanent Secretariat.

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To approve the Permanent Secretariat’s 2000 Work Programme annexed hereto.

Article 2.-That the Permanent Secretariat will consult with the Informal Working Group regarding the execution of said Programme, pursuant to Decisions Nº 379 and Nº 404 taking into account the considerations indicated in the Final Report.

DECISION No. 417

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARIAT

THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNCIL,

HAVING SEEN:

Article 15.5 and Article 31.7 of the Panama Convention;

The Financial Statements of the Permanent Secretariat at 31 December 1998 and the Auditor's Report that form part of document SP/CL/XXV.O/DT Nº 6.

DECIDES:

Sole Article.- To approve the Financial Statements of the Permanent Secretariat for the fiscal year 1 January to December 1998. To approve the Financial Statements of the Permanent Secretariat for the fiscal year 1 January to December 1998.

DECISION No. 418

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNCIL,

HAVING SEEN:

Article 34 of the regulations of the Permanent Secretariat which, among other provisions, stipulates that "in selecting the external auditor, an attempt will be made to rotate the position among the Member States, as far as is possible and considering the financial implications", and,

The audit services bids received by the Permanent Secretariat, encompassed in document SP/CL/XXV.O/DT No. 7.

DECIDES:

Sole Article.- To designate Pistone Muntuori & Associates, of Venezuela, to perform the audit of the Financial Statements of the Permanent Secretariat for the 1st. January to 31 December 1999 period, bearing in mind the rules that govern the System. To designate Pistone Muntuori & Associates, of Venezuela, to perform the audit of the Financial Statements of the Permanent Secretariat for the 1st. January to 31 December 1999 period, bearing in mind the rules that govern the System.

DECISION No. 420

DESIGNATION OF A MEMBER TO THE

SELA ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL

THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNCIL,

HAVING SEEN:

Decision No. 370

DECIDES:

Sole Article.- To designate Dr. Roger A. Yépez Martínez, of Venezuela, as Member to the Administrative Tribunal of the Latin American Economic System for the period that ranges from 1 January 2000 to 31December 2002. To designate Dr. Roger A. Yépez Martínez, of Venezuela, as Member to the Administrative Tribunal of the Latin American Economic System for the period that ranges from 1 January 2000 to 31December 2002.

DECISION No. 421

NEED TO PUT AN END TO THE ECONOMIC,

TRADE AND FINANCIAL BLOCKADE IMPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AGAINST CUBA

THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNCIL,

HAVING SEEN:

Paragraphs a) and b) of Article 3, Article 4, and paragraphs 1 (1) and 4 of Article 5 of the Panama Convention;

Decision 112 related to the Imposition of Economic Measures of a Coercive Nature;

Decisions 356 and 360 which reject the application of unilateral measures which affect the free development of international trade, violate international law and the most elemental principles of regional coexistence;

Decisions 377, 390 and 401 referred to as the “Need to End the Economic, Trade and Financial Blockade Imposed by the Government of the United States against Cuba”;

Resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, and 53/4 of 5 October 1998 adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations which request that an end be put to the economic, trade and financial blockade of the United States of America against Cuba;

The document of the Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American Economic System “Follow-up report on the application of the Helms-Burton Law during 1999”.

Declarations and resolutions of various intergovernmental fora, bodies and governments which express rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and enforcement of this sort of measures.

CONSIDERING:

The need to reaffirm, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, the non-intervention in their internal affairs and the freedom of trade and navigation, as contained in numerous international legal instruments.

That in spite of their rejection by the international community, new actions are being planned which would reinforce the effects of the economic, trade and financial blockade against Cuba, the extraterritorial nature of which affects the sovereignty of other States, as well as the interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation.

The adverse impact of the blockade on the Cuban population and Cuban nationals residing in foreign countries:

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To reaffirm its most emphatic rejection of the “Helms-Burton Act” as well as any measures designed to reinforce, expand or internationalize the blockade as they ignore the fundamental principle of respect for sovereignty, contravene the rules which govern coexistence among States, and impose unilateral sanctions of an extraterritorial nature which constitute a flagrant violation of International Law and the principles and norms that govern international trade.

Article 2.- To reiterate its position in favor of the immediate lifting of the economic, trade and financial blockade of the United States of America against Cuba and urge once again the Government of the United States of America to abrogate the “Helms Burton Act”;

Article 3.- To request the Permanent Secretariat of SELA to continue to examine this matter of particular relevance to the external relations of the region and to keep the Latin American Council informed of developments.

DECISION No. 422

TRANSFER OF THE CONTROL OF THE CANAL

TO THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNCIL,

CONSIDERING:

That on 31 December 1999 the Canal will revert to the Republic of Panama in compliance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed on 7 September 1977.

That the Delegation of Panama reiterated that its country is fully prepared to guarantee the efficient functioning of the Canal, as well as the administration and total control of the inter-ocean route; that it will operate the Canal for the benefit of international trade and the sustainable development of countries. Moreover, on 14 December 1999, the Act of Protocol for the Transfer of the Canal to the Republic of Panama will be signed in advance of that agreed to in the Treaties of 1977.

DECIDES:

Article 1: To express its satisfaction on the transfer of the Canal to the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama, an act of transcendental importance for the international community and particularly for all the States of Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Article 2: To welcome the declarations of the government of Panama regarding the transfer of jurisdiction and the efficient functioning of the Canal in compliance with the commitments acquired in conformity with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

DECISION Nº 423

ELECTION OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARY

THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNCIL,

HAVING SEEN:

Numeral 2 of the Article 15 and Article 28 of the Panama Convention,

Article 1.- To elect by acclamation Ambassador Otto Alejandro Boye Soto, as Permanent Secretary for a four-year term, beginning 1 December 1999.

Article 2.- To request that Ambassador Carlos Juan Moneta continue carrying out the functions of Permanent Secretary through 30 November 1999.

DECISION Nº 424

VOTE OF THANKS FOR THE PERMANENT SECRETARY

THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNCIL,

DECIDES:

Sole Article: To express its appreciation to Ambassador Carlos Juan Moneta, Dr. Luis Alberto Rodríguez, Deputy Permanent Secretary, and his team for the work they have performed in directing the Permanent Secretariat during these past four years, thanks to which the Organisation has been able to fulfil important functions stipulated in the Panama Convention and carry out the tasks with which it has been entrusted, regardless of the difficult circumstances faced by the Organisation.

DECISION No. 425

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA

THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNCIL,

DECIDES:

To express its thanks to the Government of the Republic of Venezuela for its valuable support to the work of the XXV Regular Meeting of the Latin American Council and particularly to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, His Excellency José Vicente Rangel, for his participation in the Ministerial Session.