Excellencies,
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
It is my great pleasure to be here today – Panama is like my second home - and it is wonderful to see so many familiar faces.
Almost a year ago, the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework on Tobacco Control and the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products adopted a decision to hold the 10th Session of the COP to the WHO FCTC and the 3rd Session of the MOP to the Protocol in Panama, bringing the tobacco control community back in the region of the Americas after more than a decade.
Hosting COP10 and MOP3 reaffirms Panama’s commitment at the highest level of government to curb the tobacco epidemic and to recognize the importance of fighting the illicit trade of tobacco products as part of this effort. In addition, it gives the region of the Americas significant international exposure for its leadership in implementing the WHO FCTC and the Protocol, with recognition from peers and the international community.
Before I close, allow me to thank once again the Government of Panama for its generous support throughout the years and for its hosting of COP10 and MOP3 next year. It will indeed be wonderful to be so close to home.
Despite the difficult last two years the world has gone through, I feel very confident that Panama will rise to the challenge and will organise a COP and a MOP that we will all remember. I really look forward to the opening of these important meetings in 2023, thanks to your leadership, hard work and commitment to a healthier, safer, fairer and tobacco free future.
Other participants with full names and titles who should be mentioned or thanked:
- Ministry of Health, Panama
- Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, Panama
- WHO Country Office
- UNDSS