MEDIA REACTION ON MAR DE PLATA AND VENEZUELA,

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002544 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES DEPT. FOR EB/TPP, WHA/EPSC, AND WHA/CEN DEPT. PASS USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO PREL ETRD KSUM HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON MAR DE PLATA AND VENEZUELA, DECEMBER 19, 2005 ¶5. On 12/16 the San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" published an op-ed by Francisco Tosi, independent journalist, entitled "From the Summit of the Americas to the Unexpected Strengthening of Mercosur, the Success of Venezuela's Foreign Policy." "The last Summit of the Americas ended with a Latin America divided between the interest of accelerating FTA or delaying this project until a favorable negotiation in the Doha Round." "Although Ecuador's economy is dollarized, it is passing thru a political stabilization process after the difficult events that ended in Colonel Gutierrez' ouster. In Colombia, the tense negotiations of its territorial conflicts has allowed it to have sustained support from the U.S. and also a wide regime of preferences. But the North American support seems to be more in sync with the current administration's prevention plan than with economic development." "The idea of unity was always present among American leaders. (This idea has been present since the nineteenth century in Central America.) By the end of the 20th century the Common Market of the South was finally constituted. But the fact is that (all the events from the past) have cleared a path that has taken us to this 2005 Summit." "At this moment Mercosur appeared as regional cohesion never before seen. The three maritime countries, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil have government that declare themselves center-leftists. The three of them have international problems and are affected by the European and North American agricultural subsidies. The damage to the economies of Mercosur, which were provoked by protectionism (that artificially lowers agricultural prices),is evident. Probably the regions' focus wouldn't have changed if Venezuela's interest hadn't come strongly, in correct terms, the Bolivarian term." "Venezuela is a clearly imperfect democracy and suffers from a torn and complex society. But it has been able to interpret its need for leadership and may interpret the destinies of South America. An attempt to create an American community or American unity didn't prosper." "President Chavez started to promote agreements with the countries of Mercosur as a preparation of what may come with the Summit. He proposed building a gas pipeline between Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina to promote a common place to solve energy problems." "With this Venezuelan diplomacy he has achieved a great triumph because he generated a regional block of leadership in the sub-continent and a very strong one in Latin America." A new political era is beginning in Mercosur. There is no more bipolarism between Brazil and Argentina. Perhaps Latin America's past leaders are satisfied with their heirs." Ford