Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TEGUCIGALPA2544
2005-12-20 22:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION ON MAR DE PLATA AND VENEZUELA,

Tags:  OIIP KPAO PREL ETRD KSUM HO 
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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