RAHMING ASSUMES CHAIRMANSHIP OF OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL

RAHMING ASSUMES CHAIRMANSHIP OF OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL

WASHINGTON, D.C. — His Excellency Dr. Elliston Rahming, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the Organization of American States (OAS) and Bahamas Ambassador to the United Nations, assumed the Chair of the OAS Permanent Council and the General Committee  in a ceremony held at the OAS headquarters at 17th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, on Friday, July 1, 2016.

Ambassador Rahming takes over from His Excellency Juan José Arcuri, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Argentina to the OAS, who presented him with a gavel, the symbol of his authority.

His Excellency Luis Alfonso de Alba Góngora, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mexico to the OAS, is the Vice Chair.

Addressing the gathering of fellow diplomats, Ambassador Rahming said that assuming the Chairmanship of the OAS Permanent Council “is an honor for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

“The OAS, in a real sense, is at the crossroads thematically, financially and philosophically,” Dr. Rahming noted. “Over the next three months our job is to steer the organization closer towards becoming the institution we all want in terms of advancement of democracy, human rights, development and the retardation of the impact of climate change throughout the hemisphere.”

He added: “As for me, you would find that as Chairman, my style is characterized by what I call the four F’s: I will be frank, firm, fair, yet friendly. By working together I believe we can add to the purposefulness of the organization.”

As the new Chair, Ambassador Rahming will be responsible during July, August and September for coordinating and guiding the work of the Permanent Council, whose mandate includes the maintenance of friendly relations among the member states and peaceful settlement of their disputes, recommendations to the General Assembly as well as implementation of decisions of the General Assembly, and upholding the standards governing the operation of the General Secretariat.

CAPTION
His Excellency Dr. Elliston Rahming (second from left), Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the OAS, being presented with a gavel, the symbol of his authority as the new Chair of the OAS Permanent Council and the General Committee, by outgoing Chair, His Excellency Juan José Arcuri, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Argentina to the OAS. At left is His Excellency Luis Alfonso de Alba Góngora, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mexico to the OAS, Vice Chair; second from right is OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro and at right is OAS Assistant Secretary General Nestor Mendez.

CAPTION
His Excellency Dr. Elliston Rahming (center) Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the OAS and the new Chair of the OAS Permanent Council and the General Committee, is pictured with outgoing Chair, His Excellency Juan José Arcuri (left), Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Argentina to the OAS, and His Excellency Dr. Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States.