Saturday 17 de november de 2018

Information for the Press N°: 468/18

On 15-16 November, the 26th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government was held in Antigua Guatemala, under the slogan "A prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Ibero-America".

The Summit was attended by all 22 countries of the Ibero-American Conference. The Argentine delegation was headed by the Vice President of the Argentine Republic, Gabriela Michetti.

During the Summit, the countries adopted the Declaration of Guatemala: "Ibero-American Commitment to Sustainable Development", the Action Programme of the 26th Ibero-American Summit and the 2nd Ibero-American Quadrennial Action Plan (2019-2022), the pillars of which reflect Ibero-America's renewed commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on the understanding that the Ibero-American Conference has the necessary conditions to support national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda.

Thanks to the leadership of Argentina and Ecuador, as well as the support of other countries, the Summit approved a new programme to contribute to the development of policies aimed at ensuring full respect for, enjoyment and exercise of the rights of people with disabilities, with a view to improving the inclusion of 90 million citizens. The Argentine Vice President, Gabriela Michetti, the Ibero-American Secretary General, Rebeca Grynspan, King Felipe VI of Spain, the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, took part in the official presentation held on 15 November during the Summit.

Another programme, in which Argentina will be taking part, was approved. Its goal is to reduce traffic accidents and their consequences by fostering public policies on road traffic safety in Ibero-American countries.

As in previous years, the "Special Communiqué on the Question of the Malvinas Islands", proposed by Argentina, was issued in order to support the call for dialogue between Argentina and the United Kingdom with a view to finding a peaceful resolution to the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas.

The "Special Communiqué on the 2nd High-Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation" and "Special Communiqué to support the celebration of the 8th International Congress of the Spanish Language" were also issued, after being proposed by Argentina.

On the sidelines of the Summit, the 12th Ibero-American Business Meeting was held, with the participation of a delegation comprised of Argentine businesspeople.

Argentina has a long and fruitful history of work in the Ibero-American Space: it hosted two Summits, in 1995 and 2010; takes part in 22 out of a total of 23 Programmes, Initiatives and Assigned Projects for Ibero-American Cooperation (PIPAS); and heads several Technical Units. Argentina currently chairs the Programme for the Strengthening of South-South Cooperation (PIFCSS) for the 2018-2021 period, which is an essential forum for dialogue and consensus to enhance South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

The significant progress on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in the Ibero-American Space will be reflected in the 2nd High-Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, which will be hosted by Argentina on 20-22 March 2019.  The organization of this type of events is in line with the importance assigned by Argentina to international cooperation, development and, especially, strengthening of South-South and Triangular Cooperation.