MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE AMAZON COOPERATION TREATY ORGANIZATION – ACTO – AND THE COORDINATING BODY FOR THE INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS OF THE AMAZON BASIN – COICA

Dr. Rosalía Arteaga Serrano, Secretary-General of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization – ACTO – as one part, and Mr. Sebastião Haji Manchineri, General Coordinator of the Coordinating Body for the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin – COICA – as the other part,

WHEREAS

The Amazon Cooperation Treaty was signed on 3 July 1978 by the Governments of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, aimed at “carrying out joint efforts and actions to promote harmonious development of their respective Amazonian territories, in a way that the joint actions will produce a series of equitable results and mutually beneficial, as well as for the preservation of the environment and the conservation and rational use of natural resources of the respective territories”.

In 1998 was signed an amendment to establish the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), aimed at strengthening coordination and joint actions among the countries, thus promoting their sustainable development in benefit to their peoples and its signatory nations, culminating in the establishment of the Permanent Secretariat in Brasilia, on 13 December 2002, converting ACTO into a sub-regional organization, with international juridical personality.

The several Treaty spheres, Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and the Summits of Presidents of Amazon Countries, have highlighted the relevance of cultural diversity in promoting sustainable development, and the importance of recognizing and respecting the Indigenous peoples to preserve their cultural and territorial integrity, as well as its participation in those benefits from the sustainable use of its natural resources, within the scope of legal frameworks in each Country Member.

The latest Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs approved ACTO’s 2004 -  2012 Strategic Plan, whereby is stated, as part of its Mission, to foment active participation of the countries and regional and local players in designing and executing several plans, programs and projects.

On 14 March 1984, in Lima, Peru, emerges the Coordinating Body for the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin – COICA –, aimed at promoting, developing and fomenting the required mechanisms to improve unity, mutual cooperation and interaction among Indigenous peoples and organization members of the Coordinating Body, as well as defending territorial restoration, their self-determination, respect to human rights and cultural comeback and recovery of its members.

COICA and its organization members foment and execute its strategy of action, set forth in the Amazon Indigenous Agenda–AIA, generating initiatives to promote welfare to the local populations living in the Amazon basin, and establishes, through relationships with Governments and other organizations, the implementation of policies to meet their needs, to become effective through the tool that establishes five priority thematic axes: human sustainability; territories and natural resources; their own legal regimens and constitutional rights; improvement of ancestral and organizational knowledge; academic and scientific education.

DECIDE

To sign this Memorandum of Understanding, to be ruled by the following Clauses:

FIRST: OBJECTIVES.

1. Establish and consolidate links of institutional relationship and cooperation;
2. Promote proper levels of relationship and mutual participation in processes related to outlining and implementing ACTO’s and COICA’s Strategic Plans, in subjects under their respective competencies.
3. Contribute towards strengthening COICA as an International Indigenous Organization, representing its Indigenous Organizations, taking into consideration its status of interlocutor to issues that may affect it.
4. Build up synergies to raise resources that allow for executing projects within the scope of this Memorandum.

SECOND: ACTIVITIES

1. Establish a Work Group to set up the guidelines to implement the Strategic Plans of both parties.
2. Proceed relevant topics established by the parties within existing institutional structures or spaces, or in others prepared for that purpose.
3. Mutual participation in events concerning topics comprised by the strategic plans of both organizations (e.g., seminar on traditional knowledge, sustainable utilization of natural resources, territorial management, protected natural areas, infrastructural projects, exploitation of mines and hydrocarbon, etc.)
4. Exchange of information on mutually interesting issues;
5. Formulate and promote transboundary projects, wherein local populations, including the Indigenous one, would participate.
6. Hold annual meetings among representatives of the parties, to program and monitor the progress of activities and projects relevant to both organizations.

THIRD: EFFECTIVENESS

This Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be effective for two (2) years, subject to renewal upon mutual agreement.

FOURTH: COUNTERPARTS

As of the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, both ACTO and COICA are to appoint their officers in charge of its implementation and follow-up.

In witness whereof, the parties sign, in two copies with same content, this Memorandum of Agreement, in the city of Quito, on the 25th day of the month of October 2004.

Dr. Rosalía Arteaga Serrano   Sr. Sebastião Haji Manchineri
Secretary-General   General Coordinator
ACTO     COICA