Latin America: OAS Critics Decry US "Group of Friends" Plan


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OAS Critics Decry US Plan to Prevent Dictatorships

By Celina Zubieta

GUATEMALA CITY, Jun 9 (IPS) - A US proposal to establish mechanisms that
would prevent any threats to democratic stability aroused heated reaction
from some delegates attending the 29th General Assembly of the Organisation
of American States (OAS).

Venezuelan foreign minister, Jose Vicente Rangel labelled the plan an
''exaggerated'' reaction to Latin American reality, since history had shown
that ''democracy arises from the efforts of the people themselves.''

''It's a delicate issue to talk about intervention in  Latin America, even
with the best of intentions,'' Rangel said. ''This continent is very
suspicious of any interventionist proposals.''

He pointed out OAS mechanism already existed for this purpose such as
''Resolution 1.080 approved in 1991 in Santiago, and the Washington Protocol
of 1992.'' Both measures provided for the suspension from the Organisation
of any nation whose government was replaced by force.

Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru, joined
Venezuela in criticizing Washington's proposal.

The US initiative for ''strengthening representative democracy'' calls for
the creation of a group of nations that would provide assistance to a
country undergoing institutional upheaval. The crisis would be challenged
''by the moral force of the OAS, through appropriate pacific means.''

''It is in our interest to strengthen, not intervene, but I am aware that
there are people who like it, and people who do not,'' said US delegate,
Kenneth MacKay.

At Guatemala's request, the General Assembly analysed the impact the current
financial crisis has had on the Americas.

Mexican foreign minister Rosario Green proposed that the OAS ''take a
leadership position'' in looking for ways out of the crisis, suggesting that
the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund provide support to help
nations face their financial crises.

Guatemalan foreign minister Eduardo Stein stated that OAS countries had
''put the problem in the right context, that is, how to bring those
responsible for economic decisions together in an effective relationship
with global policy decisions.''

Rangel proposed ''sincere political debate'' on measures to be taken that
would prevent the expansion of the financial crisis from one country to
another.

The Venezuelan official also ''wondered'' if incompetence, corruption, and
the money tied to criminal activities circulating through the region's
banking systems had been determining factors in the crisis development.

''I wonder what role is played by institutions de-legitimised by corruption,
by democracies degraded by governmental indifference, and by the complicity
of bankers,'' he said.

Rangel added that these ''immensely irresponsible and immoral (activities)
occurring at a critical moment in the country's history,'' had cost
Venezuela 10 billion dollars.

''We can't have effective solutions to the financial crisis without solid
national and regional institutions, and especially not without social
justice. The region's social crisis is already endemic, historic, and even
pre-dates the financial crisis,'' he said.

Rangel went on to question the OAS's role saying, ''I am not convinced. This
continues to be my word, my declaration. I don't see any real political will
to take on the region's social problems.''

The Venezuelan foreign minister said that the multilateral reality is more
than just a diplomatic meeting. ''And after this, what? After this we will
go back to the same thing, resolutions that are approved practically
unanimously and then never executed.''

Rangel explained that ''it is not necessary to level our institutions, but
to make an effort within them to produce important elements of change, and
that includes the OAS.''

He proposed the strengthening of parliamentary and judicial institutions as
well as the OAS, and he favoured continuing negotiations for the creation of
the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), while stressing that
strengthening national economies came first.

Rangel said he also believed that industrialised nations did not do enough
to help the region.

''On economic issues there is no sense of  humanity. There is total contempt
for the smaller countries - the crisis in these countries is marginal (for
them),'' he said.

''We  continue in a situation of absolute international injustice. This
isn't just rhetoric on my part, it's reality.''

(c) 1999 IPS
 
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