Inspired on the Cartagena Agreement, which reflects the will shared by all parties to materialize the historical mandate aimed at integrating our nations, and on the international relations principles established in the Charters of the United Nations Organization and the Organization of American States;

Convinced that the Andean integration process has made valuable contributions to peace maintenance in the subregion and the development of our nations, through institutional strengthening, gradual increase in economic-trade exchanges, and a joint search for better terms of insertion within the international scenario;

Convinced that Andean integration strengthening and deepening require intensified cooperation on all aspects and the consequent development of community institutionality leading to more advanced stages of knowledge, reliance, solidarity and fraternity among our nations;

Being aware that peace and security are indispensable conditions for attaining higher levels of political, economic, social and cultural development in our countries, thus they are considered to be essential objectives for the Andean integration process;

Based on the certainty that a democracy in full force and effect and a government ruled by law are the best guarantee for peace;

Considering that it is inherent to the strengthening and consolidation of democracy to have fair societies in which human development is encouraged and poverty, social exclusion and inequity conditions are overcome;

Being aware that justice and social cohesion, human development and cooperation for integral development are necessary for the stability of the Andean Community countries;

Taking into account the Declaration of Galápagos: Andean Commitment on Peace, Security and Cooperation;

Considering the Lima Commitment: Andean Charter for Peace and Security, Limitation and Control of expenses assigned to External Defense, signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Andean Community Member Countries;

Reaffirming the contents of the Andean Charter for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights;

Welcoming the adoption of the Guidelines for the Andean Common Policy on External Security, which is a milestone in political cooperation development within the Andean integration process;

Determined to approach in greater depth inside the Andean Community the very important step taken by the South American Presidents at the Summit of Guayaquil, where they declared a South American Peace and Cooperation Area;

Convinced of the urgent need to establish a Peace Area in the Andean Community that will encourage the strengthening of democratic institutionality and promote security and mutual trust, as well as balanced and harmonious development of the Member Countries, in order to achieve continuous improvement of the people’s quality of life in the subregion.

1. To establish a Peace Area in the Andean Community, within the geographical space comprising the territories, air space and waters under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, as a nuclear, chemical and biological weapons-free area, in which the necessary conditions will be developed to enable a peaceful and agreeable solution of conflicts of any nature whatsoever, as well as the causes thereof.

2. To declare that the Andean Peace Area is based on the responsible exercise by all citizens and the full effectiveness of democratic values, principles and practices, a Government ruled by law, human rights, social justice, human development, national sovereignty and no interference in each country’s internal affairs. It is also based on Andean identity, encouragement of friendly relations and cooperation for integral development, and peace culture, as well as on the joint efforts to prevent and counteract any threats –both conventional and new- to security, and to look for a more fair and equal international order.

1. Contribute to the development and strengthening of democratic values, pirnciples and practices and, among them, of political and institutional systems of the Member Countries and the region as a whole, in conditions of justice, unity and social equity.

2. Ensure compliance with the prohibition to use or threaten to use force among the Member Countries.

3. Encourage, within the Andean Community, the prevention and peaceful solution of conflicts of any nature whatsoever.

4. Contribute to international disarmament and effective ban of mass destruction weapons -nuclear, chemical, biological and toxicological- and their transit by the subregion, as well as final eradication of antipersonnel mines, in accordance with international instruments in force.

5. Create the necessary conditions to overcome the problems that have a negative impact on the comprehensive development of our societies.

6. Contribute to the strengthening of international peace, through the development of a South American Peace Area, based on a democratic, cooperative and non offensive conception of security.

1. Define a general framework of principles and options to be used by the parties directly involved in a controversy, which does not fall within the competence of the jurisdictional bodies of the Andean Integration System, in order to find a solution thereof.

2. Promote the design and implementation of an Andean Program of Measures to Promote Reliance and Security, taking into account the progress achieved in the development of border relations between the Member Countries, the implementation of the parameters established in the Lima Commitment, as well as the Declarations of Santiago and San Salvador, and the Miami Consensus;

3. Develop a standardized methodology for the drawing up of White Books in matters of defense, taking into account the knowledge and experience accumulated in the region;

4. Encourage participation of the Andean countries in peace maintenance operations, under the mandate of the United Nations Organization;

5. Implement the Guidelines for the Andean Common Policy on External Security through the full implementation of, among others, Decision 505 “Andean Cooperation Plan for Fighting against Illicit Drugs and Associated Crimes”, and Decision 552 “Andean Plan for the Prevention, Fight and Eradication of Illegal Small and Lightweight Arms Traffic in all aspects thereof”, as well as other instruments íncluded in the respective agenda.

6. Develop and deal in greater depth with legal, police and judicial cooperation, with the purpose of contributing to the creation of a common space for citizen security and justice.

7. Encourage awareness of a Culture of Peace to achieve a peaceful coexistence within the Andean Community.

8. Promote the implementation of a Community Policy on Integration and Border Development, to prevent the appearance of tensions that may threaten community peace and security.

9. Favor convergence and strengthening of the continuous progress made in the development of the Andean Peace Area, through full implementation of the Guidelines for the Common Security Policy, in coordination with other community policies and efforts in the fields of Social Development, Environmental Management and Biodiversity, as well as human rights.

10. Encourage initiatives for development and consolidation of the South American Peace and Cooperation Area, as well as the hemispheric and world architecture of the common security system.

Signed in the city of Quito, Ecuador, on this 12^th day of July, 2004.