NewsWhore
03-19-2009, 06:40 PM
President Leonel Fernandez spoke of several issues on the minds of Latin American statesmen as they prepare to meet with US President Barack Obama in Trinidad this coming 17-19 April for the Fifth Summit of the Americas. "Obama has not yet had 100 days in government, and thus there is nothing definite about his policies with Latin America. There are positives signs on one hand, and indicators that raise concern on another," said Fernandez. He mentioned dismantling of the Guantanamo jail as positive, the lack of action following the referendum in Venezuela that allows President Chavez to run again, and the lack of intervention in El Salvador after the election of a leftist candidate.
On the negative side, he mentioned the impediment on Mexican truck drivers transporting goods to the US. This was responded with protectionist policies by Mexico. "There should be dialogue," he said.
Fernandez said that the topic of the moment is security, drug trafficking, which he described as "alarming" in the case of Mexico. He said that the intensification of the war in the Middle East had left this region to its own devices, and as a result drug dealing has soared. He said that although Plan Colombia has succeeded, drug dealers moved to Mexico and the Caribbean. "There could be changes in the US government anti-narcotics policies, and we hope for increased cooperation," he said. He expects migration, trade, foreign investment and drug trafficking to be the common agenda of the summit.
Earlier, Eduardo Gamarra, director of the Latin America and Caribbean Center at Florida International University, also spoke on the upcoming summit. He told the audience not to expect much from the meeting between President Obama with Latin American statesmen in Trinidad & Tobago in April. "What is most important is that Obama is going to Trinidad to listen and learn," he said. He also said it is important to note that this is the first Summit of the Americas where a large delegation from the US Congress will be participating with an important agenda. And while he does not expect major announcements of joint projects, he would not be surprised if a FTA were signed with Panama this year and with Colombia next year, despite what was said in the presidential campaign. He said the topic of security would be a key one for the summit.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)
On the negative side, he mentioned the impediment on Mexican truck drivers transporting goods to the US. This was responded with protectionist policies by Mexico. "There should be dialogue," he said.
Fernandez said that the topic of the moment is security, drug trafficking, which he described as "alarming" in the case of Mexico. He said that the intensification of the war in the Middle East had left this region to its own devices, and as a result drug dealing has soared. He said that although Plan Colombia has succeeded, drug dealers moved to Mexico and the Caribbean. "There could be changes in the US government anti-narcotics policies, and we hope for increased cooperation," he said. He expects migration, trade, foreign investment and drug trafficking to be the common agenda of the summit.
Earlier, Eduardo Gamarra, director of the Latin America and Caribbean Center at Florida International University, also spoke on the upcoming summit. He told the audience not to expect much from the meeting between President Obama with Latin American statesmen in Trinidad & Tobago in April. "What is most important is that Obama is going to Trinidad to listen and learn," he said. He also said it is important to note that this is the first Summit of the Americas where a large delegation from the US Congress will be participating with an important agenda. And while he does not expect major announcements of joint projects, he would not be surprised if a FTA were signed with Panama this year and with Colombia next year, despite what was said in the presidential campaign. He said the topic of security would be a key one for the summit.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)