| Media Note (Revised) Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC January 30, 2003 U.S. Hosts Meeting of Experts on Confidence and Security-Building Measures
The United States will host an Organization of American States (OAS) "Meeting of Experts" on Confidence and Security-building Measures (CSBMs) in Miami, Florida from February 3-4, 2003. Mandated by regional heads of state at the 2001 Quebec City Summit of the Americas, the meeting is designed to help reduce inter-state tensions and foster a climate of trust, transparency, and cooperation in the Hemisphere. Participating in the Conference will be delegations of diplomats and experts from nearly all of the 34 member states of the OAS. The Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Luigi Einaudi, will be an inaugural speaker at the Conference, along with Curt Struble, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Also invited are representatives from OAS observer states, as well as from international organizations and civil society. Participants expect to finalize the "Declaration of Miami on CSBMs" and an "Illustrative List of CSBMs." Both documents will recommend voluntary measures that OAS member states may adopt in order to facilitate cooperation among states. The Miami Meeting of Experts will expand and institutionalize CSBMs recommended by previous conferences and inform a Special Conference on Security OAS members will hold this May as part Quebec Summit-mandated review of regional security institutions. The U.S. delegation will be led by Lincoln Bloomfield, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. Ambassador Peter DeShazo, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the OAS, will serve as Chair of the conference. The U.S. delegation will consist of officials from the National Security Council, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense, including the Joint Staff and U.S Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). SOUTHCOM Commander General James T. Hill will be the keynote speaker at a luncheon on February 3rd. For additional information, contact Chip Barclay at (202) 647-4252.
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