SECOND REGULAR MEETING OF THE SUMMIT IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW GROUP (SIRG) Washington DC - July 24, 2008
			Documents: Draft Agenda  ENG -  ESP -  FRA - POR
V Summit of the Americas
		April 17 - 19, 2009 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago			“Securing Our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability"
What's New				Updated: May 14, 2008
On May 1-2, over 100 civil society organizations gathered in Miami, Florida to exchange points of view on the principal topics of the Fifth Summit of the Americas. The Civil Society Hemispheric Forum: “Securing Our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability” was organized collaboratively by the National Secretariat for the Fifth Summit of the Americas of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the OAS Summits of the Americas Secretariat.  Civil society representatives that attended the Forum prepared and presented recommendations for the consideration of the Host Government of the Fifth Summit, taking as their reference point the Concept Paper for the Fifth Summit.  This consultation is a critical step towards the next Summit as the Host Country prepares a draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain, which will be negotiated within the coming months with the objective of being adopted in April 2009 by the Heads of State and Government of the 34 democratically elected governments of the hemisphere. See also: Fifth Summit of the Americas Website and OAS Civil Society Website   At a special meeting of the OAS Permanent Council in Washington DC on April 9, 2008, the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,  formally presented the host government’s final concept paper for the Fifth Summit of the Americas to be held in Port of Spain in April 2009.  As stated in the concept paper: "Securing our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability" focuses on reducing critical vulnerabilities and improving the well-being and safety of the peoples of the Americas through an integrated and mutually reinforcing set of social, economic and environmental policies.  It addresses a collective regional agenda for achieving accelerated human development and poverty reduction, social and cultural inclusion, and a transition to greater energy security and more sustainable communities.”  The Foreign Minister will provide an update on the status of preparatory work on the Fifth Summit during the next meeting of the Summit Implementation Review Group at Ministerial Level to be held within the framework of the OAS General Assembly in Medellín, Colombia, June 1-3, 2008. See also: Press Release
Quote of the Week
"The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has taken the decision that the Fifth Summit of the Americas will take place in the heart of our capital city of Port of Spain over the period April 17-19, 2009" The Honorable Paula Gopee-Scoon Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Meeting at the Ministerial Level of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) Medellin, Colombia, June 2, 2008