Organization of American States Environmental Cooperation Agreement

U.S. and Six Member Governments of Organization of American States to Sign Environmental Cooperation Agreement and Trade Understanding

Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Regina Vargo will join senior representatives of five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic to sign an Environmental Cooperation Agreement and an Understanding Regarding the Establishment of a Secretariat for Environmental Matters under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, or "CAFTA." The signing ceremony will take place on Friday, February 18, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. in the Hall of the Americas, main building of the Organization of American States, 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC.

Both the Agreement and the Understanding promote sound environmental practices, the former by establishing a framework for cooperation in environmental protection and the latter by instituting a mechanism to aid in the implementation of the environmental provisions of CAFTA. Senior representatives from the governments of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the United States will sign the instruments.

This event is open to the press. Media representatives will be required to present press credentials. Media with electronic equipment (TV cameras, etc.) should arrive at 9:00 a.m. to clear security and complete set up by 9:30 a.m. Other members of the press should arrive by 9:30 a.m. The event will be web cast live over the Internet at oas.org.

For further information, please contact Susan Povenmire, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, at (202) 647-3486.

2005/202 Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC February 16, 2005