2007 International Conference of the Americas

The inaugural ceremony of the 2007 International Conference of the Americas took place the evening of October 11, 2007 at the Convention Center in Bávaro, Dominican Republic.

 

During the opening ceremony of CILA 2007 Master of Ceremonies, Crisermy Mercado; Secretary General, Diana Zuluaga; Executive Director of the United Nations Association of the Dominican Republic (UNA-RD), Pilar Sandoval; and FUNGLODE
General Director, Frederic Eman-Zadé, welcomed the more than 1,500 individuals that participated in the event.

 

Following the opening remarks, Juan Miguel Diez, Director of the United Nations Information Centre for Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic (CINU), read a message sent by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon. “If security and development are two pillars of the United Nations,” wrote the
Secretary General, “human rights are the third.” In his message he expressed that he hoped that CILA 2007 would help to foster greater understanding of the United Nations and the work that can be done to improve today’s world.

 

Conference Secretary General, Diane Zuluaga, highlighted that the Dominican Republic is the First Latin American country to receive the honor of celebrating the First Regional Model
of the World Federation of the United Nations Association.

 

Zuluaga stressed that each CILA 2007 experience should be taken advantage of to the fullest. The Conference Secretary General stated that it is during the Model United Nations that the future of the Dominican Republic is formed. “The world is no longer what it was before,” she posited, “imparting knowledge of global formation is critical to
shaping leaders of the new millennium.”

 

Students then enjoyed a performance by the Ballet Folklórico Dominicano, thanks to coordination by Rosalba Morera.

 

Following the performance, Model United Nations Director, Katherine Acosta presented a video on CILA. In this video presentation, participants as well as representatives from organizing institutions spoke
about what the Model United Nations signified to them.

 

ANURD Executive Director, Pilar Sandoval, thanked CILA 2007 participants and collaborators for their presence and collaboration, and the Barceló hotels for their warm reception of event participants and organizers.

 

FUNGLODE General Director, Frederic Emam-Zadé stressed the continual need for such
gatherings and the importance of raising awareness of pressing societal issues. He encouraged future leaders to lead not only with their minds but their hearts as well.

 

The Conference Secretary General then officially declared the commencement of the third session of the International Conference of the Americas, CILA 2007.

 

After Zuluaga’s remarks, the Security
Council’s Emergency Committee entered suddenly as they simulated an emergency session and summoned delegates to convene in order to devise solutions for the Tsunami that affected China and Indonesia.

 

This surprise session with the Emergency Committee concluded the day’s events and was demonstrative of the new and innovative programs characteristic of this year’s conference.

 

Related link:
CILA 2007
http://www.unadr.org/new-anudr/en/paginaview.php?codigo=49