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April 16, 2009 NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA POLICY EXPERTS URGE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO FORGE CLOSER TIES TO LATIN AMERICA AND DEEPER PARTNERSHIP WITH BRAZIL DURING "SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS" Economic Crisis, Cuba, and Security Cited as Concerns; WASHINGTON -- A panel of experts debated U.S. policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean and urged the U.S. Administration to forge closer ties to the region this week during the "Summit of the Americas." Meeting under the auspices of The George Washington University School of Business' Center for Latin American Issues and of the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College, the experts noted that the region's well-being is vital to U.S. interests, and discussed a series of measures to help address the region's serious economic and social problems. Foremost among proposed steps was to get the U.S. economy back on track without imposing restrictions on international trade or financial flows. Citing the summit meeting this week of hemispheric leaders in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, the group urged that the 'Summit of the Americas' process be recast so that leaders can devise practical, action-oriented solutions to problems. The Port-of-Spain summit on April 17th will be the fifth time--and the first for the Obama Administration--that the hemisphere's leaders meet as a group since the process began in 1994. Experts agreed that the Summit of the Americas represents an opportunity for the Obama Administration to reshape the U.S.' role in the region. Another top recommendation was that the U.S. forge a broader and deeper partnership with Brazil in order to push forward the hemispheric agenda. Brazil is an increasingly active global player that has demonstrated considerable political and economic stability in recent years. "Brazil is the most influential South American country, and the United States is the most influential in the hemisphere. It therefore makes sense for us to forge strong relations with Brazil," said Center for Latin American Issues Director James Ferrer, a former US Charge d'Affaires in Brazil, noting that Brazilian President Lula had been the first foreign head of state to call on President Obama. "I hope that portends a growing partnership between our two countries." Carlo Dade, executive director for the Canadian Foundation for the Americas, spoke at length about security in the region, pointing out that security concerns were once rooted in ideology--such as guerrilla movements--but now are fueled by money, as evidenced by the growing power of narcotraffickers and gangs. "But security policy has not shifted to respond to this," he said. "We still fund military budgets when it's obvious we need more funding for domestic security, police and justice. In portions of Central America, defense budgets are coming down, but they need to come down further." No consensus emerged on U.S. relations with Cuba, but two experts offered their views. Michael Shifter, vice president for policy at the Inter-American Dialogue, said leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean are going to look at whether Obama leans toward reintegration of Cuba and how that is reconciled with democracy building. Shifter categorized the "Cuba question" as the issue that has most divided Latin America and the United States. "If we are talking about real change, then Cuba is the test," he said. Lino Gutierrez, former U.S. ambassador to Argentina and Nicaragua and adjunct professor at The George Washington University advocated, "At a time when the Cuban regime has become such a great anachronism in the hemisphere, to unilaterally lift the embargo and ask for nothing in return, I don't think sends a good signal for democracy." To download the report on the panel discussions "An Agenda for the Americas" and to view a video of the event, please visit http://business.gwu.edu/americas/ and http://www.gwu.edu/~clai/ssicolloquium2009/Agenda%20Americas07April2009_documents.htm. The Center for Latin American Issues is a premier center for the pursuit of scholarship and academic excellence on issues pertaining to Latin America and the Caribbean region. Through its programs and activities, the center seeks to further academic study and research on major Latin American issues and on how those issues affect the interests of states within and beyond the region; to accelerate the development of human resources, including the professional skills and competencies of public servants and managers; to propagate the ideals of political and economic democracy throughout the region; and to foster greater mutual understanding among the peoples of the hemisphere. For more information about the Center for Latin American Issues, visit www.gwu.edu/~clai. |
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