The Argentine Republic will hold the Second Vice-Presidency of the INSARAG Regional Group for the Americas for three years as from 2017. Argentina's candidacy was submitted and accepted at the fifteenth annual regional meeting of the body in Bogotá, Colombia.
The President of the White Helmets Commission of the Argentine Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Alejandro Daneri, will assume, on behalf of Argentina, the Second Vice-Presidency of the INSARAG at a regional level. The Argentine delegation also includes Engineer Martín Gómez Lissarrague and Mr. José Pizarro, a member of the White Helmets Commission.
For the purpose of contributing to the greater effectiveness of emergency preparedness and response, the White Helmets Commission (the international humanitarian assistance organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship) will represent Argentina. "This is an important opportunity to continue to strengthen not only Argentina's humanitarian assistance commitment, but also Argentina's reinsertion into the world," Ambassador Daneri pointed out.
The activities of INSARAG are governed by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 on the "strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance." Some of its purposes are to improve efficiency in the provision of international cooperation for search and rescue assistance, to promote activities to enhance preparedness in disaster-prone countries, to develop international systems and procedures, and to strengthen emergency cooperation at the assistance stage.
Appointments to positions within this international group are made by consensus among countries in the Americas, based on the principle of rotation. Next year, Ecuador will become the President of the group and Mexico will become the First Vice-President.
Press release No. 440/16.
Press Office: 4819-7375 / 8296 / 7388
@CancilleriaARG