Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANTODOMINGO3045
2005-06-06 11:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

OAS SECRETARY GENERAL INSULZA ON DEMOCRACY AND

Tags:  PREL OAS 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 003045 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, WHA/OAS, WHA/PPC, WHA/EPSC; SOUTHCOM
ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OAS
SUBJECT: OAS SECRETARY GENERAL INSULZA ON DEMOCRACY AND
DIFFICULTIES IN THE HEMISPHERE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 003045

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, WHA/OAS, WHA/PPC, WHA/EPSC; SOUTHCOM
ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OAS
SUBJECT: OAS SECRETARY GENERAL INSULZA ON DEMOCRACY AND
DIFFICULTIES IN THE HEMISPHERE


1. OAS Secretary General Jos Miguel Insulza spoke last
night, June 2, to the annual conference participants of the
Caribbean Studies Association, held in Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic. Diplomats and other guests invited the
event organized by President Fernndez,s think-tank, the
Foundation for Development and Democracy (FUNGLODE).
Insulza was there in response to an invitation that had been
extended before he ran for the OAS position.


2. In his remarks Insulza said Haiti, Bolivia, and certain
countries in South America are facing democratic problems.
Underlying all of these are the basic issues of democracy,
governability, human rights, poverty, inequality, and
insecurity.


3. Further points:

Strengthening Democracy
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - The Inter-American Democratic charter was signed with
much moment. It was about democracy. We in the OAS take our
commitment to democracy seriously, and it needs to be about
actions with results, not just principles.

- - There are many people in the hemisphere who live on less
than $200/year. Democracy isn,t impossible with these
conditions, but it,s harder.

- - There is substantial support for democracy, but in some
polls, it is not as strong as other polls indicate ) maybe
only 50 percent of the population thinking that democracy is
the best system to deliver results.

- - At heart, the problem underlying democracy is weak
institutions ) and democracy is critically linked with
governability. It has to do with basic state functions such
as the ability of the state to collect taxes, to provide a
functioning police and justice system, etc.

- - Institutional development to protect human rights also
needs to be strengthened.

Working on Security
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - In addition to democracy, security is another key area
for the OAS, particularly in terms of arms and gangs.

Weighing in on International Issues

- - The OAS should express a regional opinion about the big
international issues of the day. It hasn,t done that, but
it should begin.

Social Charter

- - Insulza mentioned the social charter briefly (&We will
work on that ) we need it to deliver(8)

In the press conference that followed, Insulza reportedly
commented:

- - There should be multilateral mechanisms to help countries
who solicit that help when there is a &rupture8 of
democracy.

- -The OAS has to use the democracy-strengthening initiative
to adopt active measures in place BEFORE a democratic crisis
erupts. There must be working groups and/or adequate
contacts to identify the problems occurring in each country.
He hopes the General Assembly will give the Secretariat
General a mandate to work on these issues with greater calm
and to find the necessary consensus between countries to make
this a reality.

- - Haiti,s situation is worsening, in a manner that could
threaten the electoral process. The OAS has a specific
responsibility to advise Haiti on the elections.

- - Bolivia is confronting a social crisis that threatens
government stability. The OAS is monitoring the situation
and has been in contact with the president. The OAS accepts
the Bolivian decision for the OAS not to participate in
helping the resolve the conflict. GOB has to ask for help if
it should wish to receive it.

- - Replying to a question about Cuba, Insulza said that Cuba
shouldn,t divide the OAS membership ) discussion should
reach consensus.










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