Togolese Ambassador Presents Credentials to OAS Secretary-General

By Ben Bangoura*

On Friday January 26, Frederic Edem Hebge , Ambassador of the Republic of Togo, presented his Letter of Credence to OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro during a brief meeting at the organization headquarters in Washington.

The move makes Togo the latest country outside the hemisphere to be admitted as permanent observer to the Organization of American States founded on 30 April 1948 to promote cooperation among its members within the Americas. The Permanent Observer statute allows the Republic of Togo to have free access to most meetings and relevant documentation.

"As Togo does not have a diplomatic representation in most countries in the region, we believe that membership of the OAS is also a viable alternative", said Ambassador HEGBE.

During the meeting, Togolese diplomat shared with the OAS Secretary General, his country's global agenda based on economic development, security, and peace building among nations.

Mr. Luis Almagro congratulated the Republic of Togo for becoming a permanent observer member state and said OAS will work with the country to achieve these goals. He accepted the invitation of the Togolese Ambassador to visit the West African nation.

With 34 members strong, OAS is a multilateral regional body focused on human rights, electoral oversight, social and economic development, and security in the Western Hemisphere.