The Diplomat
The Central American Integration System (SG-SICA) and the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) have signed an agreement that will allow the OEI to participate in this international organization as an observer.
The agreement, signed last Thursday by the secretary general of the SG-SICA, Vinicio Cerezo, and the secretary general of the OEI, Mariano Jabonero, will allow joint work in the areas of education, science, technology and culture within the member countries of SICA “with the objective of strengthening integral development, democracy and regional integration”, according to the OEI, based in Madrid. Within this framework, the organization will explore possible modalities of cooperation through activities aimed at raising educational, scientific, technological and cultural levels, provided they are also of interest to SICA.
As an observer to SICA, the OEI may participate in the Meeting of Presidents, the Council of Ministers or any other SICA body or institution. Likewise, it shall have the power to submit for consideration of SICA agenda items aimed at strengthening the relations of friendship and cooperation between the OEI and SICA, through the General Secretariat. On February 24, 2021, the SICA Council of Ministers decided to accept the admission of the OEI as an Observer and instructed the General Secretariat of the Central American organization to take the corresponding steps to formalize the Participation Agreement.
“SICA and the OEI have ahead of us the opportunity to explore ways to exchange and adapt experiences of value to the lives of Central Americans”, stated Cerezo. “The active participation of observers is key to strengthen the political exchange and collaboration of member countries and international organizations, always having SICA as a strategic framework for interlocution”, he added.
According to Mariano Jabonero, the consolidation of this new step in relations with SICA “reinforces the regional integration orientation that animates both institutions”. Jabonero also pointed out that SICA is also expected to become an observer organization of the OEI, at a historic moment when Central America is preparing to commemorate the Bicentennial of Central America’s Independence.
