Former President Leonel Fernandez Concludes Dominican Model Inter-American System in Santo Domingo

The former President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández, and honorary President of GFDD and FUNGLODE, offered the closing remarks to the third edition of the Dominican Model Inter-American System (MODOSI 2013), at the Mauricio Báez Cultural Center Auditorium of Santo Domingo. It was a ceremony attended by the representative of the Organization of American (OAS) in the Dominican Republic, Ambassador Aníbal Quiñónez and 300 Dominican students and their
teachers.

The MODOSI is the result of an alliance between the OAS General Secretariat, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (FUNGLODE), and the United Nations Association of the Dominican Republic. Former President Fernández emphasized in his address the importance of reforming the education of young Dominicans and urged teachers to incorporate into their teaching programs and unconventional and interactive activities like the MODOSI which "break
out of the mold" and favor the development of skills that young people can apply to their lives and future work.

The MODOSI was opened by the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Ambassador Albert Ramdin, who addressed the topics of the conference related to the generation of greater income and decent employment for young people; the protection and promotion of the freedom of expression; and strategies for combating drug abuse. Ambassador Ramdin, who became
a proud recipient of a FUNGLODE Award, said that "there is no doubt that there is a relationship between poverty, the lack of opportunities and information, and their connection to crime and violence."

During the MODOSI students performed simulations of the Permanent Council and the OAS General Assembly, the Summit of the Americas and the Inter-American Development Bank. After three days of discussion, debate and negotiation, students passed three
resolutions and a statement, the preparation of which was aided by the advice of experts from the OAS in these subjects.

The OAS participation in national models is done through the Model OAS General Assembly (MOAS) Program of the Office of the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS. The MOAS seek to promote democratic values and the spread of OAS work among the youth of the hemisphere by conducting exercises that simulate the political bodies of the OAS. Several
International and national Models are held each year.

Related Links:
www.oas.org.