VARIOUS: At the Americas Summit, North and South American heads of state are likely to discuss regional issues including the drug war, Cuba and the Falklands

Record ID: 480313

  • Title: VARIOUS: At the Americas Summit, North and South American heads of state are likely to discuss regional issues including the drug war, Cuba and the Falklands
  • Date: 13th April 2012
  • Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (APRIL 11, 2012) (REUTERS ) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLITICAL ANALYST, VICENTE TORRIJOS SAYING: "I believe that this summit will show that the entire Inter-American hemisphere is at a juncture where it has to be rebuilt from the bottom up. As a matter of fact, this is what the countries led by (Venezuelan) President Chavez hope. And what I mean is that th
  • Embargoed: 28th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Argentina
  • City:
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3YYAU6CQXNAIYU3999W12GMGF
  • Story Text: Leaders from North and South America will mix perennial controversies over Cuba and the Falklands with trade tensions and a new look at the war on drugs at a weekend summit in Colombia.
    The 33 nations at the Organization of American States' sixth Summit of the Americas in the seaside city of Cartagena are, however, unlikely to bring big changes on the major issues facing the hemisphere.
    Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he prefers to focus discussion on specific topics rather than scheduling a broad number of matters that might fall through the cracks.
    "We wanted to limit the number topics in the agenda, precisely, because we didn't want these to be scheduled and end up being just on a piece of paper as it usually happens in most of summits of this kind. Therefore, we have chosen topics that we believe are relevant and tangible for the agenda, "said Santos.
    Given Colombia's history of drug and guerrilla violence, 20,000 soldiers and police officers were deployed to guard the heads of state. But the Marxist FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebels have been largely driven back but not eradicated and Santos suggested it was time to discuss alternatives.
    "The traffic of narcotics feeds all kinds of violence and groups associated with it. This has taken place for decades. Even though we have been successful or relatively successful at times, we seem to be at a point where we feel we are riding a stationary bicycle. We look around and we continue to see the same thing. Business continues as well as the consumption rates continue growing in Europe and Central America. We have to grab the bull by the horns and start a discussion. Every time we get more flooded by organized crime and that is why it is important to take a stand to see if there any better alternatives than the ones as international community has been utilizing up to this point."
    The most interesting debate in Cartagena may be over drugs says Vicente Torrijos, a political analyst based in the Colombian capital Bogota. He said there are growing calls from around the world for a fresh look at how to combat the violent, multibillion dollar illegal trade which have failed to be curbed by decades of hard-line policies. The matter, according to Torrijos, will be politically sensitive for U.S. President Barack Obama.
    "The issue of drugs is a very sensitive subject in the United States and that's why President Obama has wanted to be broad enough with Latin America so the problem can be aired out but extremely cautious with domestic politics so that this doesn't become one more issue on the agenda that could harm him or cause him problems," said Torrijos.
    In South America, some believe decriminalizing marijuana as well as the growing of coca - the raw ingredient for cocaine - would slash revenue for traffickers and encourage farmers to plant different crops.
    For Torrijos, the Sixth Summit of the Americas in Cartagena Colombia will lay wide the difference among the nations. He sees countries led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez challenging Obama.
    "I believe that this summit will show that the entire Inter-American hemisphere is at a juncture where it has to be rebuilt from the bottom up. As a matter of fact, this is what the countries led by (Venezuelan) President Chavez hope. And what I mean is that these countries want to challenge Obama in regards to very sensitive issues such as, Why isn't Cuba present in this summit? Why is the island still embargoed? In addition to the issue of Argentina in its demands for the Falkland Islands, and also the Bolivian right to have access to the sea. There are a great number of issues on the table which the superpower (referring to the United States) would have to provide an immediate answer to, but doesn't have the answer," added Torrijos.
    Obama, facing a tight re-election contest in November, is expected to maintain the U.S. hard line toward drugs and try to focus more on economic matters.
    "We'll be discussing the possibilities of deeper co-operation on economics, on trade, on science and technology and on security issues. We'll also have a chance to discuss the upcoming Summit of the Americas in Colombia and how we can set the agenda that focuses on increasing prosperity and employment and opportunity for people throughout the Americas," said Obama as he addressed questions about the Summit of the America during his participation in the G-20 meetings in France on November, 2011.
    Though the summit's official agenda ranges from technology to poverty reduction, Cuba will once again shape into the No. 1 hot potato for those gathering in the Caribbean port city.
    Ecuador's leftist president, Rafael Correa, is boycotting the Organization of American States (OAS) summit over Cuba's absence. Various other leaders plan to pressure Obama over easing the five-decade U.S. trade sanctions against the communist government in Havana.
    "Let's be clear: Why isn't Cuba participating (in the summit)? Because of the U.S. boycott," said Correa while visiting Turkey this past March.
    Cuba was kicked out of the OAS shortly after Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in February while testifying before Congress that Washington had no intention of inviting Havana to attend.
    "We do not believe there is any intention to invite Cuba. We've made our views well-known. They don't fit the definition of democratic countries and the development of democracy in the hemisphere. So, at this point, we see absolutely no basis, and no intention to invite them to the summit," said Clinton.
    Santos, who has built good relations with the leftist ALBA bloc of Latin American nations despite being a U.S. ally and a conservative politician, hopes this will be the last edition without Cuba.
    "I hope it is the last summit without Cuba. I hope we can advance and have bridges, effective bridges so that this can be the last summit without Cuba," he said just two days before the summit kicks off.
    This year's 30th anniversary of the war between Britain and Argentina over the remote Falklands archipelago, known in Argentina as the Malvinas Islands, rekindled bitter memories and is sure to resonate at the meeting.
    Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has wide support in Latin America for her demand that Britain abandon what she calls its "colonial occupation" and negotiate sovereignty of the islands.
    "Fundamentally, we are going to continue with the demand to comply with the resolution of the United Nations to sit down and negotiate this issue," said Fernandez before this year's 30th anniversary.
    Great Britain won the 1982 conflict that killed 650 Argentine and 255 British troops. Since then, London has refused to consider leaving the islands and has further irked the Argentines by exploring for oil there.
    This year's Americas Summit will run from Saturday (April 14) through Sunday (April 15).
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