Annual Conference of Mining Ministries of the Americas (CAMMA '97)

Arequipa, December 1997

By direction of the I Annual Conference of Mining Ministries of the Americas held May 1996 in the city of Santiago, Chile, and in accordance with the Action Plan of the Santa Cruz de la Sierra Summit on Sustainable Development, "reaffirming our determination to move forward toward sustainable development and to implement the decisions and commitments set forth in the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21, which were adopted
at the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992", the Ministers, Vice-Ministers, Secretaries of State, Under-Secretaries and Heads of Delegation, having assembled in the city of Arequipa, Peru, on 22nd September 1997 for the II Annual Conference of Mining Ministries of the Americas, make the following:

DECLARATION OF AREQUIPA

WHEREAS:

The mining sector of the Americas garners a large proportion of world investment funds.

These resources make possible the further introduction of technological advances to facilitate development of our mineral potential, with adequate protection for the environment.

The mining industry plays a leading role in the productive transformation of our natural resources, generating additional opportunities for employment, creating new potential in manufacturing and services, and contributing significantly to economic decentralization.

Development of the mining and metals industry increases the economic and social well-being of present and future generations alike, and is an important means for alleviating poverty and promoting regional development.

Given the globalization of the mining industry and its importance to economic growth and poverty reduction, it is vital to control the environmental impact of mining operations and promote adoption of production methods that incorporate clean technologies and encourage reuse of mineral waste and recycling of metals.

WHEREFORE the Ministries recognize that:

Countries with mining industries should adopt a proactive approach in defining their mining policies based on sustainable development and efforts to promote both safety in the use of minerals and metals, and trade in mining products.

Science and technology are essential for increasing the mining industry's ability to protect the environment, improve the health and well-being of the peoples of the Americas, create employment and stimulate economic growth. Accordingly, one of our highest priorities is to encourage training in technical areas and in the management of human resources within the public and private sector, using adequate technology transfer as one of the means to achieve this goal.

The Meeting of Experts from Mining Ministries of the Americas, held at ECLAC's headquarters in Santiago, Chile, from 22nd through 25th July 1997, drew up a number of proposals under six high-priority areas for sustainable development of the mining industry and the safe use of minerals and metals.

Based on the foregoing considerations,

The Mining Ministries of the Americas have agreed to:

1. Have the Secretariat of the Annual Conference of Mining Ministries of the Americas ask the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru, which in accordance with this mandate will coordinate horizontal cooperation upon request, to organize the workshops necessary for giving effect to the decisions taken in this Declaration.

2. Organize and carry out a meeting of experts from our ministries prior to the next Conference of Mining Ministries of the Americas, specifically to work on the following:
(a) Agree on a common approach and coordinate policies on sustainable development in our countries.
(b) Agree on a common approach and coordinate policies on the safe use of minerals and metals.
(c) Monitor the degree of progress in the priority areas indicated in the conclusions of the Meeting of Experts held in Santiago, Chile.

3. Promote the importance of mining and sustainable development within the community of nations and among the ministries and other public and private sector institutions, so as to create a culture of sustainable development with regard to mining.

4. Coordinate with the corresponding bodies in our respective countries to ensure that minerals and metals are included as an item in the presentation of the Secretary General of the OAS on sustainable development for the Summit of the Americas to be held in Santiago, Chile, in April 1998.

5. Hold the upcoming III Annual Conference of Mining Ministries of the Americas in Buenos Aires, in November 1998.

Signed by:

Argentina: Daniel Meilan, Sub-Secretario de Mineria
Bolivia: Hugo Miranda, Sub-Secretario de Mineria
Brazil: Luciano de Freitas Borges, Secretario Sustuto de Minas y Metalurgia
Canada: Linda Keen, Assistant Deputy Minister, Minerals and Metals Sector, Natural Resources Canada
Chile: Sergio Jimenez Moraga, Ministro de Mineria
Colombia: Eduardo Chaparro Avila, Subdirector de Planeacion Minera, Ministerio de Minas y Energia (signed July 6, 1998)
Costa Rica: Julio Chaves Molina, Embassador
Cuba: Nancy Garcia Lamadrid, Directora Nacional de Recursos Minerales
Dominican Republic: Octavio Lopez, Director General, Direccion General de Mineria (signed July 6, 1998)
Ecuador: Jorge Sevilla, Sub-Secretario de Mineria
Mexico: Luis Escudero Chavez, Director General de Minas
Nicaragua: Jorge Luis Préndiz, Executive Director, Direction de Promocion y Desarrolo Minero
Paraguay: Dario Gomez, Asistente en el Area de Mineria
Peru: Alberto Pandolfi, Minister of Energy and Mining
Uruguay: Gonzalo Illarramendi, National Director of Mining and Geology USA: Bob Armstrong, Assistant Secretary for the Administration of Mining
Venezuela: Angel Alberto Franco, Director of Mines