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North American Foreign Ministers Meeting
Canadian Chair’s Statement
Wakefield, Québec, December 13, 2010
North American Foreign Ministers discussed continental and regional security and prepared for the next North American Leaders Summit (NALS), expected in 2011. Ministers reaffirmed their government’s commitment to trilateral cooperation and coordination, as it will bring benefits to the three countries.
North American partners are increasingly concerned about the security situation throughout Central America and the Caribbean. Ministers renewed their commitment to combating transnational criminal organizations.
Ministers agreed to support citizens’ efforts in the Americas to strengthen democratic values, processes and institutions and, to make democracies more effective, accountable and able to respond to the needs and interests of citizens.
Ministers identified the following important areas of trilateral cooperation:
- A commitment to work towards the identification of specific areas of trilateral cooperation in Central America.
- Engagement with the countries of Central America, with a view to creating a North America-Central America dialogue to strengthen regional cooperation and efforts against trans-national criminal organizations.
- Trilateral cooperation on natural disaster risk reduction, prevention/mitigation, preparedness and response in the Americas.
- A commitment to Haiti, specifically, that it remains a mutual priority and the subject of continued monitoring, including on the political transition and related democratic process. We call on the existing process of the United Nations, the Organization of American States and CARICOM, including the Verification Commission, to continue thorough efforts to find a solution going forward on the second round of elections. Other priorities are the response to the outbreak of cholera and the reconstruction and the promotion of long-term stability and prosperity through private sector investment and development.
Ministers discussed the results of the 16th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and highlighted the importance of an integrated North American approach to climate change, clean energy, and environmental issues writ large.
Ministers reviewed the work undertaken since the 2009 Guadalajara NALS to support our economy and advance competitiveness. They look forward to progress on regulatory cooperation and to enhance coordination to promote exports.
Trilateral cooperation on cyber security, internet freedom and privacy was endorsed to foster the protection and promotion of human rights, as well as innovation and prosperity.
Ministers noted the work done by their public health and safety colleagues in revising the North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza and discussed how Leaders could strengthen health cooperation.
