Herald.com: Rice at OAS in Fort Lauderdale: defend democracy

Herald.comRice at OAS in Fort Lauderdale: defend democracy

While the debate over democracy was waged inside the convention center, a battle by delegates and journalists just to get to the assembly was being waged outside. Security was so extensive that delegates, visitors and the media were dogged by problems, facing multiple security checks, being turned back because drivers were not authorized and even being blocked from walking on foot to the convention center.

Inside the assembly democracy and trade was the main course on the menu. When it comes to Latin American trade one of the most interactive international relationships is that between the US and Mexico. Mexico is the US’ second largest trading partner after Canada, superseding Japan. At the same time, the US is by far Mexico’s largest trading partner, and accounts for some 60 per cent of total foreign investment in its southern neighbor. The US-Mexican border is the busiest in the world with over 1 million people crossing between the two countries daily. In addition, 11 per cent of the US population is of Mexican origin. While the level of economic activity between the two is enormous, it is a relatively recent development that has resulted since the introduction of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) just a decade ago.

On the issue of democracy in the Hemisphere the Bush administration's record is not entirely negative as some might think. The U.S. government played a constructive role during Brazil's 2002 presidential election, supporting an agreement between the International Monetary Fund and the Brazilian government and opposition. That agreement allowed the Brazilian left, for the first time ever, to win the presidency. Similarly in 2004, the Bush administration adopted a hands-off policy in Uruguay's presidential elections, won also for the first time ever by the left. At times of crisis, the Bush administration supported the governments of Peru and Ecuador, and it has provided impressive support to the constitutional government of Colombia. On balance, therefore, the record is mixed. The Bush administration still seems as likely to foster as to retard democratic processes in the Americas.

On Cuba some positive signs are also emerging as a result of European diplomatic and economic efforts. In Florida, the University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies took advantage of the OAS' annual General Assembly, being held in Fort Lauderdale Sunday through Tuesday, to organize a seminar on how the 34-hemispheric bloc can play a constructive role in Cuba's future. ''It is high time [the OAS] addresses the issue of Cuba and Cubans,'' said Martin Palous, the Czech Republic's ambassador to Washington. ``If anything can come out of this general assembly . . . it is [that] Cuba is part of the American discussion. It would be a tremendous boost for Cuban freedom fighters.'' A dozen Latin American and European leaders have already signed a three-page declaration on Cuba passed around at the seminar and urging the OAS to ``consider how it can play a constructive role in helping a future Cuban democratic transition government rejoin the hemispheric family of democracies and rebuild its political, legal, economic system.'' In addition, the resolution urged the OAS' Inter-American Human Rights Commission to remain vigilant on Cuba's human rights situation and help its people.