US assumes chair of the Summits of the Americas

WASHINGTON, USA - The United States, which will host the Summit of the Americas in 2021, took over from Peru as chair of the process during a virtual ceremony of the Organization of American States (OAS) in its role as the technical secretariat of the process.

The acting assistant secretary for the US Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and the new chair of the Process, Michael Kozak, stressed that his country, as the new chair of the summits process, will continue to work with the OAS in defense of democracy. "This includes efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela and to end the suffering of Venezuelans under the illegitimate Maduro regime. It also means restoring democracy in Nicaragua and holding the Cuban regime accountable for its abuses,' said Kozak.

OAS secretary-general, Luis Almagro, congratulated Peru for its work at the head of the Process and wished the United States success in its term as chair. "The Inter-American Democratic Charter will mark 20 years in 2021 and will be an inspiration to the countries of the hemisphere when the IX Summit is held, chaired by the United States,' added the OAS leader.

The outgoing chair and director of Multilateral and Global Affairs of the ministry of foreign affairs of Peru, Luis Chávez, recalled that at the VIII Summit of the Americas held in his country in 2018, the Lima Commitment was adopted, with '57 concrete mandates to fight against corruption and impunity.' "At the VIII Summit in Lima it was reaffirmed that the defense of democracy sustains the fight against corruption,' added the Peruvian diplomat.

Peru hosted the Summit in 2018. The United States hosted the first Summit in 1994.

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