Organization of Central American States

Abstract

At a meeting of foreign ministers of five Central American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—held on November 15–17, 1962, and attended also by an observer from Panama, it was provisionally agreed to set up a new Organization of Central American States (ODECA) to supersede the organization of the same name set up in October 1951. The Charter of the new organization, known as the San Salvador Charter, was formally signed at a further meeting of foreign ministers held in Panama City from December 12 to 14, 1962. Panama did not sign the Charter, but provision was made for that state to become a member if it wished to join at a future date. The new Charter was to come into effect when ratified by the five states which had signed it. Following ratification by Costa Rica on March 30, 1965, the Charter entered into force.