Quito, July 11, 2004. Andean Foreign Ministers provided a significant boost to political cooperation in the Andean Community, by approving the Guidelines for the Andean Common Policy on External Security, to make it possible to prevent and face any threats to security, with the benefit of cooperation and coordination; and at the same time, develop and consolidate the Andean Peace Area, as an area free from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Such guidelines, which are the result of four sub-regional seminar/workshops, with the participation of representatives from the community in member countries and High Level meetings on the matter, were approved by a Decision of the Andean Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers, held within the framework of the Andean Presidential Summit, in Quito, Ecuador.

The approved Decision contains the objectives, principles, grounds, criteria, institutional mechanisms, operational instruments, action methods and agenda to govern the definition and implementation of Andean Common Policy on External Security.

According to the stipulations, the objectives are to prevent, fight and eradicate new security threats, assist in the promotion of economic development and social welfare of the inhabitants of the Andean Community, reinforcing security in the sub-region and promote the community participation of the Andean countries in the definition and procedures corresponding to collective, hemispheric and world security, among other matters.

The definition and coordination of Andean Common Policy on External Security will be the responsibility of the Andean Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers, which, whenever deemed convenient, will meet with the Ministers of Defense and other competent authorities of the member countries, to continue dialogue and exchanges on the various aspects of this policy.

Also anticipated is the Andean Security Network, comprised of political, business and academic organizations and other members of the community, together with government and inter-government organizations of the sub-region, with the object of encouraging national, inter-sectorial and sub-regional dialogue, whereby public and private organizations will accompany the design, implementation and progress evaluation in the development of the Andean Common Policy on External Security.