The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz, accompanied President Michelle Bachelet today at the opening day of the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA), a meeting organized by the Ministry of Energy that brings together more than twenty ministers and officials from the Americas.
The central theme of the meeting is how to advance the energetic transition in Antarctica. In line with the priorities set by the countries, the programme emphasizes discussions on energy efficiency and renewable energies.
The Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas is a hemispheric cooperation platform formed following the 2009 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. Its purpose is to share information and coordinate actions for the optimal use of the region's natural resources and to promote investments in energy.
Chile is presiding over the Steering Committee in the 2015-2017 period, which also includes the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Our country is also leading the development of the Action Plan, which promotes collaboration on seven pillars: a) energetic efficiency; b) renewable energy; c) more efficient fossil fuels; d) energetic infrastructure; e) energetic poverty; f) regional energy integration; and g) energy research and innovation. Minister Muñoz will make a speech tomorrow during the closing of the meeting.
As part of today's meeting, the Foreign Minister held a bilateral meeting with the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, with whom he discussed issues of regional interest, including the situation in Venezuela.
"Chile is a signatory to the declaration of Lima, which was very clear about what is happening, the breakdown of the democratic order in Venezuela and the need to restore, not only the democratic order, but also the most elementary issues such as the rule of law, the release of political detainees, the restoration of the faculties of the National Assembly and an electoral calendar. That is the only way to resolve the differences and polarization that exists in that country", he said.