New US-free Americas bloc agreed

[Communist]

.
New US-free Americas bloc agreed (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8531266.stm)
2010/02/24

Latin American and Caribbean nations have agreed to set up a new regional body without the US and Canada.

The new bloc would be an alternative to the Organisation of American States (http://www.oas.org/en/default.asp) (OAS), the main forum for regional affairs in the past 50 years.

Mexico has been hosting a regional summit in the beach resort of Cancun.

The OAS has been dogged by rifts between some members and the US over economic policy and trade, and criticized for promoting US interests.

'Regional integration'

The proposed new grouping was one of the main issues on the agenda of the two-day summit, which ended on Tuesday.

It "must as a priority push for regional integration... and promote the regional agenda in global meetings", Mexican President Felipe Calderon told the summit, which includes leaders and representatives from 32 countries.
“It's very important that we don't try to replace the OAS. The OAS is a permanent organization that has its own functions ”

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47359000/jpg/_47359187_leaders_ap.jpg

Cuban President Raul Castro was quick to applaud Mr Calderon's announcement as a historic move toward "the constitution of a purely Latin American and Caribbean regional organization".

Cuba was suspended from the OAS in 1962 because of its socialist political system. In 2009, the OAS voted to lift Cuba's suspension but the country has declined to rejoin.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez earlier expressed his support for the proposal, citing it as a move away from US "colonizing" of the region.

A US State Department official, Arturo Valenzuela, said he did not see the new body as a problem.

"This should not be an effort that would replace the OAS, " he said.

The terms of the new bloc and whether it would replace the Rio Group of Latin American countries has not been clarified.

"It's very important that we don't try to replace the OAS," said Chile's President-elect Sebastian Pinera. "The OAS is a permanent organisation that has its own functions."

On Monday, Bolivian President Evo Morales proposed that it begin operating in July 2011 with a summit hosted by Venezuela.

Falklands row

The Cancun summit has also unanimously backed Argentina's claim over the British-owned Falklands.

Argentina is angered that a UK firm has begun drilling for oil off the Falkland Islands, which lie about 450km (280 miles) off the Argentine coast.

Argentina and Britain went to war over the South Atlantic islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas, in 1982, after Buenos Aires invaded them.

The leaders at Cancun also discussed whether to recognise Porfirio Lobo as the legitimate president of Honduras after he was elected president under interim authorities following a 28 June coup that ousted Manuel Zelaya.

A long-term plan to help Haiti recover from the devastating January earthquake was also on the agenda.


© BBC MMX

[Communist]

.
Latin America's Path to Independence (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/feb/25/latin-america-independence)

With the creation of a new regional organisation,
Latin America is emerging as a power bloc with its
own interests and agenda

by Mark Weisbrot
25 February 2010

Latin America took another historic step forward this
week with the creation of a new regional organisation
of 32 Latin American and Caribbean countries. The
United States and Canada were excluded.

The increasing independence of Latin America has been
one of the most important geopolitical changes over the
last decade, affecting not only the region but the rest
of the world as well. For example, Brazil has publicly
supported Iran's right to enrich uranium and opposed
further sanctions against the country. Latin America,
once under the control of the United States, is
increasingly emerging as a power bloc with its own
interests and agenda.

The Obama administration's continuation of former
President Bush's policies in the region undoubtedly
helped spur the creation of this new organisation,
provisionally named the Community of Latin American and
Caribbean States. Most importantly, the Obama team's
ambivalence toward the military coup that overthrew the
democratic government of President Mel Zelaya in
Honduras last summer provoked deep resentment and
distrust throughout the region.

Although the Obama administration was officially
against the coup, numerous actions from day one -
including the first White House statement that failed
to condemn the coup when it happened - made it clear in
the diplomatic world that its real position was
something different. The last straw came in November
2009 when the Obama administration brokered a deal for
the return of Zelaya, and then joined the dictatorship
in reneging on it. Washington then stood against the
vast majority of the region in supporting the November
elections for a new president under the dictatorship,
which had systematically repressed the basic rights and
civil liberties necessary to an electoral campaign.

Arturo Valenzuela, the US state department's top
official for Latin America, said that the new
organisation "should not be an effort that would
replace the OAS [Organisation of American States]".

The differences underlying the need for a new
organisation were clear in the statements and
declarations that took place in the Unity Summit, held
in Cancun from 22-23 February. The summit issued a
strong statement backing Argentina in its dispute with
the UK over the Malvinas (as they are called in
Argentina) or Falklands Islands. The dispute, which
dates back to the 19th century and led to a war in
1982, has become more prominent lately as the UK has
unilaterally decided to explore for oil offshore the
islands. President Lula da Silva of Brazil called for
the United Nations to take a more active role in
resolving the dispute. And the summit condemned the US
embargo against Cuba.

These and other measures would be difficult or
impossible to pass in the OAS. Furthermore, the OAS has
long been manipulated by the United States, as from
2000 when it was used to help build support for the
coup that overthrew Haiti's elected president. And most
recently, the US and Canada blocked the OAS from taking
stronger measures against the Honduran dictatorship
last year.

Meanwhile, in Washington foreign policy circles, it is
getting increasingly more difficult to maintain the
worn-out fiction that the US's differences with the
region are a legacy of President Bush's "lack of
involvement," or to blame a few leftist trouble-makers
like Bolivia, Nicaragua, and of course the dreaded
Venezuela. It seems to have gone unnoticed that Brazil
has taken the same positions as Venezuela and Bolivia
on Iran and other foreign policy issues, and has
strongly supported Chávez. Perhaps the leadership of
Mexico - a rightwing government that was one of the
Bush administration's few allies in the region - in
establishing this new organisation will stimulate some
rethinking.

There are structural reasons for this process of
increasing independence to continue, even if - and this
is not on the horizon - a new government in Washington
were to someday move away from its cold war redux
approach to the region. The US has become increasingly
less important as a trading partner for the region,
especially since the recent recession as our trade
deficit has shrunk. The region also increasingly has
other sources of investment capital. The collapse of
the IMF's creditors' cartel in the region has also
eliminated the most important avenue of Washington's
influence.

The new organisation is sorely needed. The Honduran
coup was a threat to democracy in the entire region, as
it encouraged other rightwing militaries and their
allies to think that they might drag Latin America back
to the days when the local elite, with Washington's
help, could overturn the will of the electorate. An
organisation without the US and Canada will be more
capable of defending democracy, as well as economic and
social progress in the region when it is under attack.
It will also have a positive influence in helping to
create a more multipolar world internationally.

[cyu]

Thanks - important stuff

[REDSOX]

Interesting development which no doubt will piss off the imperialists

[Communist]

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Creation of Community of Latin American and Caribbean States: a historically significant event (http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2010/febrero/mier24/Creation-of-Community.html)

• States Raúl, addressing the Summit of Latin American and Caribbean Unity, which ended on Tuesday • Two declarations and eight special documents adopted, including a condemnation of the U.S. blockade of Cuba

Lazaro Barredo Medina


RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico.— The creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States is a historically significant event, and we believe it appropriate to strive to promptly define its statutes and mode of functioning, so that they cover the collective interest in the greater integration and unity of our region, Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz said on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in addressing the Unity Summit’s final session.

Raúl’s speech was closely followed by those present in the large auditorium, and he made a number of points that were later referred to by other speakers.

The Summit ended on Tuesday after two declarations were approved: the Declaration of Cancun, and the Declaration of the Unity Summit, which establish the main programmatic commitments to political and economic coordination and cooperation.

In addition, eight special documents were passed on: migratory cooperation; solidarity with Haiti; a declaration on the Malvinas issue, backing Argentina’s legitimate rights in its dispute with the UK; and a special communiqué, supporting Argentina’s demands regarding hydrocarbon exploration on the continental platform, in terms of the persistent unilateral British actions.

The summit also passed a declaration on Guatemala, congratulating that country for the outcome of investigations by the International Commission against Impunity, which cleared President Alvaro Colom of any responsibility for the death of lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg in 2009.

Likewise, the meeting passed a resolution supporting the Ecuadorian initiative known as Yusuní-ITT, a voluntary gesture on the part of Ecuador not to exploit 846 million barrels of oil that lie under the subsoil of the Yasuní National Park, to benefit the environment and ensure the conservation "of one of the places of most biodiversity in the world."

Another document expresses solidarity with Ecuador after the Financial Action Task Force included it, in a manipulative move, on the list of countries that have failed to adequately address money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Other resolutions include a condemnation of the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba.

In listing the underlying principles of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Mexican President Felipe Calderón said the new organization "should prioritize the advancement of regional integration with a view to promoting our sustainable development, advancing our regional agenda in global forums, and having a better position in response to relevant world events."

Likewise, he announced that in July 2011, in Caracas, Venezuela, the various government representatives are to define the guidelines of the new bloc, which is to comprise the Rio Group and the Latin American and Caribbean Summit.

In 2012, they will meet again in Chile, the country that assumed the rotating presidency of the Rio Group for the next two years in a ceremony in which President Michelle Bachellet bid farewell to the other presidents and introduced her successor, Sebastián Piñera, who spoke briefly, reaffirming his commitment to take forward the summit’s agreements.

Outgoing Costa Rican President Oscar Arias also bid farewell to those present, with a speech whose tone was somewhat pessimistic regarding the new Latin American and Caribbean coordination organization.

He also made contradictory statements which, using certain sophisms in defense of democracy, expressed potentially divisive opinions which focused conflicts evidently on nations that have put up the greatest ideological and political resistance in recent years.

On that, shortly afterward, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called upon his colleagues to always take an optimistic attitude: "There is no reason at all for us to be pessimists," he said.

The Brazilian president addressed a number of issues, and questioned the United Nations for its lack of decisiveness in relation Argentina’s sovereignty in its conflict with Britain over the Malvinas Islands, and he asked for a discussion of the role and composition of the Security Council, which, he said, represents the geopolitical interests of World War II, "and fails to take into account the changes that have happened in the world."

Another issue extensively addressed by Lula was the recent Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, where, Brazil, China and India stated their belief that "it is possible to find a new formula to reach an agreement."

"The rich countries like the United States and the European Union have to take into account the interests of Africa and Latin America in making decisions to mitigate global warming," he affirmed.

At the end of the session, the Cuban delegation remained for some time in the auditorium to attend to various heads of state and government, as well as other important figures, officials and delegation members who approached the Cubans to greet them, exchange opinions and take photos with Raúl.

Almost the last to leave, Raúl and President Hugo Chávez walked away chatting like brothers, greeted by many people, including security personnel, journalists and hotel workers.












http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index2_archivos/logo.png (http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html)

[Tifosi]

What has the Goverment of Canada said on this?

[RedStarOverChina]

Is any South American or Carribean country excluded from the bloc?

What's Columbia's position on this?

[Ligeia]

Is any South American or Carribean country excluded from the bloc?

What's Columbia's position on this?
I haven't seen any list of the countries included in this...and only the mentioning of the exclusion of the U.S. and Canada, thus it can obly be assumed that all are included (the organising of this bloc is still in the making).
As for the meeting in Cancun, Honduras was excluded from it and e.g. Chavez said he'd only accept the actual Hondurean government if it permitted Zelaya's return and allowance to continue his political activities.(But the actual Hondurean government's court under Lobo even wants to arrest Zelaya). But still, I haven't seen anything that e.g. states that Honduras is excluded from this (or any other Latinamerican or Carribean country).
Anyway, ...Colombia hasn't commented in the Cancun meeting on this new bloc, as far as I know (it's also been said that Uribe only attented the photographic sessions and breakfast),...further, there'll be elections held in May (in Colombia) which may indicate that Uribe (whose re-election has been refused by the court some days ago) and his government may focus more on internal politics now.

[RedStarOverChina]

Thanks for sharing.

This is indeed a historic development, one we've all been waiting for.

[Glenn Beck]

Is any South American or Carribean country excluded from the bloc?

No, but the right-wing president-elect of Chile has stated that the new organization must not displace the OAS with that sentiment being echoed by the more conservative governments in attendance. In other words they are playing ball but with their own agenda; they don't want to be shut out of regional diplomacy but neither do they share all the interests and objectives of the meeting.

[RedStarOverChina]

No, but the right-wing president-elect of Chile has stated that the new organization must not displace the OAS with that sentiment being echoed by the more conservative governments in attendance. In other words they are playing ball but with their own agenda; they don't want to be shut out of regional diplomacy but neither do they share all the interests and objectives of the meeting.
Of course. But I expect US's influence in South America to wane even further in the future, and that's when those conservative governments and South Americans in general will reconsider their options---especially since there is another option as of now.

[Spirit of Spartacus]

Of course. But I expect US's influence in South America to wane even further in the future, and that's when those conservative governments and South Americans in general will reconsider their options---especially since there is another option as of now.

And if they don't reconsider their options, their people will force them to.

As far as US imperialism is concerned, countries like Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia are presenting a "bad" example to other Third World countries.

[AK]

Pfft, so when do you think America will have a hissy fit and order blockades against the entire continent?

[Spirit of Spartacus]

Pfft, so when do you think America will have a hissy fit and order blockades against the entire continent?

They can't do that, obviously. They'll try to de-stabilize progressive and anti-imperialist regimes instead.

Support upper-class protesters, support military coups, support separatist movements in privileged areas, etc.

[whore]

how bizarre. how bizarre.

this is a strange move. sure, i can understand wanting to challenge usa dominance in teh region. but, is this really going to work? nah. i also find it bizarre that leftists are supporting it so strongly. big deal, a bunch of governments are acting in their own interest, to try and be a little bit more independent from the biggest country in that hemisphere. they are still governments, and they are still capitalist countries.

how bizarre. how bizarre.

[dez]

Is any South American or Carribean country excluded from the bloc?

What's Columbia's position on this?

Uribe began the whole thing by having a clash with chavez, something that the right of the right condemned and he ended up looking like an ass.
I loved it.

[dez]

They can't do that, obviously. They'll try to de-stabilize progressive and anti-imperialist regimes instead.

Support upper-class protesters, support military coups, support separatist movements in privileged areas, etc.

Elections are coming, and people here are already weighing the consequences since Lula cannot run again.

[Communist]

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Latin America and Caribbean (http://www.workers.org/2010/world/clacs_0322/)

32 countries agree to build independent bloc

Berta Joubert-Ceci
Mar 7, 2010

The latest effort in the process of regional integration of the Latin American and Caribbean countries took place on Feb. 22-23 in Cancún, Mexico, with the participation of 32 independent nations.

The new organization, called the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CLACS), is an attempt to create a body that would not include the United States or Canada, in order to establish an independent bloc that can respond to and pursue the interests of the region — not only among the member states at the hemisphere level, but in the international arena as well.

Of the 33 countries in the region, only Honduras was not invited. It was expelled from the Organization of American States last summer due to the criminal military coup of June 2009 that deposed the democratically elected president, José Manuel Zelaya.

CLACS is considered by many regional presidents as the alternative to the U.S.-dominated OAS. In fact, the failure of the OAS to respond in an effective manner, which could have reversed the Honduras coup, hastened the convening of the new Community. Most of the governments in CLACS have made it clear they consider the Honduran coup an immense danger that could set a new precedent of coups and destabilization processes in their countries, bringing back the era of military dictatorships that ravaged Latin America during the 1970s and 1980s.

The U.S. has increased its militarization of the region, expanding the Fourth Fleet, putting bases into Colombia and Panama, invading Haiti under the pretense of providing aid, and supporting the coup in Honduras. This is regarded as a real threat that cannot be left unchecked.

This new body is in some ways a continuation of the Rio Group, which initiated the new formation at its 21st summit, called the Unity Summit. Although the Rio Group will not cease to exist, at least not until CLACS is firmly established, both entities will continue working side by side. The Rio Group itself was a continuation of the Contadora Group formed by Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela in the early 1980s in an effort to respond, as Latin American nations, to the U.S. wars then raging in Central America against Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Eventually, that group expanded, adding more Latin American and Caribbean nations until the 1990s, when it became the Rio Group.

CLACS is still only an attempt, an effort, without firm guidelines. These will be developed throughout the year, taking as a model the Cancún Declaration released at the end of the Summit. They will be discussed in the next meeting, to take place in Venezuela in 2011.

The declaration takes several aspects into consideration, including regional integration and cooperation. This focuses on a concerted response to the financial crisis, including the call to build a new international financial body that would be more democratic; regional mechanisms for trade and exchange using their own or a common currency rather than the dollar; promoting the integration of their economies, and stimulating trade among themselves.

Other matters to be addressed include energy, infrastructure, migration, science and technology, social development including efforts towards the eradication of poverty and hunger, education, health and public services, culture, the inclusion of women in all areas of development, sustainable development, climate change, response to natural disasters, human rights, security, drug problems, terrorism and South-South cooperation.

There was significant discussion of the situation in Haiti in order to elevate cooperation with that beleaguered country and ensure its long-term development.

Another important decision was a unanimous condemnation of the British occupation and militarization of the Malvinas Islands, which Britain calls the Falklands. Although it was not part of the Cancún Declaration, in a separate document the countries supported Argentina’s right to the Malvinas, calling for a discussion in the United Nations.

In a recent arrogant imperialist move, Britain unilaterally approved exploration for future oil extraction in the waters surrounding the Malvinas, where there is an estimated reserve of 60 billion barrels of crude oil. Despite Argentina’s protests, the British have continued their plans for exploration.

Despite all the contradictions and inconsistencies that can arise in a community that includes anti-imperialist countries with a socialist perspective — such as Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia — together with strong U.S. allies such as Colombia, Panama, Peru and Costa Rica, the fact is that it does represent a viable effort to act independently of the imperialists, particularly U.S. imperialism.

As Cuban President Raúl Castro said at the conclusion of the CLACS summit: “The decision that we have just adopted, creating the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, is historic. ... Cuba considers that the conditions exist to move quickly towards the establishment of a regional organization, purely Latin American and Caribbean, that integrates and represents the 33 independent nations of Latin America and the Caribbean.” (Telesurtv.net)
_________




Articles copyright 1995-2010 Workers World (http://www.workers.org/wwp/).
Verbatim copying and distribution of this
article is permitted in any medium without
royalty provided this notice is preserved.

[Tablo]

Meh, I don't particularly like any of the Latin American regimes, but it is always nice to see countries giving a big "Fuck You" to the United States.

[RedSonRising]

Some people may think that this development in regional strength may be irrelevant or outside the interest of the working class in building socialism in Latin America, but governments that empower the working class and those who don't building a front against imperialism inherently puts US-LA relations into a context that recognizes existing and historical imperialism and wishes to end it. I don't advocate pretenses of cooperation and support for bourgeois governments, but what this does is give the leftist governments of Latin America political leverage; this is clearly something organized from their strategic political statements. In associating this mentality of anti-imperialism with other non-leftist governments of Latin America, they create a dominant ideological perspective with which forces inside pro-capitalist States in Latin America can interact with and pull resources from in their independent nationally-shaped struggles for working class empowerment. This is a positive change in international relations and I hope that it plays in the favor of the proletariat's continental unity.