The Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Mónica Palencia, today assumed the Chair of the OAS Permanent Council during a ceremony held at the hemispheric institution's headquarters in Washington, DC.
Ambassador Palencia indicated that she would seek to guide the Permanent Council's discussions using a methodology called "nexus," based on the premise that, before bringing positions closer together, it is necessary to understand the concepts underpinning them. "Integration is built through a process of reason, decision, and action that can turn our differences into opportunities to advance toward development and peace," said the Ecuadorian diplomat.
For his part, the Permanent Representative of Dominica and outgoing Chair of the Council, Steve Ferrol, thanked the delegations of the member states for their cooperation, support, and spirit of dialogue during his tenure. "One of the contributions I am particularly pleased to leave behind is a governance framework for the Permanent Council. It draws on the experience and institutional knowledge that can help future chairs and delegations navigate the Council's work," added Ambassador Ferrol.
Ambassador Palencia will chair the Council until December 31, 2026. The Permanent Representative of Belize, Nestor Mendez, will serve as interim Vice Chair.
Reference: FNE-145095
