16 May 2008
The
suspicion I had yesterday that the topics presented as being the focal
interests of the Lima summit would get marginal attention have been further
substantiated by analysts in today’s news. If you are interested, click on the
link to this European news source http://www.euronews.net/index.php?page=info&article=487495&lng=1 for a report of today’s
happenings (though they are few) and for an assessment of what is come in the
following days.
I
maintain that very little will be accomplished in Lima-save promises to be
broken. My pessimism is not unnecessary negativity but instead an honest and
needed realism. I will continue to report on the summit as it progresses.
Best,
-Pat
15 May 2008
These
extradited former paramilitary leaders are receiving a great deal of attention
(see yesterday’s entry). As indicated yesterday, these trials are paramount and
they may be a pivotal point in the fight against terrorism in Colombia, the war
on drugs, and the conflict there more generally. I will not spend time on the
topic today but if you are interested check Adam Isaacson’s blog at CIPCOL and
the ensuing discussion by commentators including myself. Here’s the link: http://www.cipcol.org/?p=598#comments
I
would like to draw everyone’s attention to the Latin America-European Union
summit being held in Lima this week. The focal points of the summit are
primarily global warming, poverty, and rising food costs. Certainly this sounds
like the topics that are discussed at about every recent summit of world
leaders and policy makers in recent months-save rising fuel costs and human
rights violations, though surely they will each make their way into the
conversation.
Like
many summits, the topics proposed as the focal interests at the beginning are
not always the topics that are actually focused on. Already it seems that the
hot-topic is going to be the Ecuador-Colombia border crisis in March and both
Chavez’ and Correa’s involvement with the FARC and the coca trade.
While
hot-topics will be discussed, commentators on the summit have suggested that we
will not see the hot exchange of words like those that flared between King Juan
Carlos of Spain and Chavez at the Chilean summit six months ago. This summit
will have a more controlled environment and discussion sessions will be more
private.
Though
I think it is a positive thing that European leaders are meeting with Latin American
leaders, this type of summit seems to be somewhat of a waste of time. This is
owing to the fact that no single voice speaks for the European Union-which is
ripe with a lack of internal cohesion among its MEPs and staff at the EC.
Adding to this, Latin America does not have a single voice, nor do they claim
to have one.
I
will post an update on the outcomes of the summit. I don’t assume that anything
really groundbreaking will come of it however. There is a lack of leadership in
both parties that will inhibit the implementation of any ideas that may be
thought up.
Have
a good day,
-Pat
