Cuba USA

CELAC and the threat of an economic crisis

by Ángel Guerra Cabrera

translation Cuba - Network in Defense of Humanity

In the inaugural speech of the 4th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) its outgoing president, Rafael Correa put the OAS in its place by saying that it “is more anachronic than ever” and must be replace during a “medium period” by a new Latin and Caribbean organization.

If there were not other regions that unquestionably legitimize the meeting, only by this brilliant speech it would have been worth whole holding the conference. Speaking in the “Néstor Kirchner” building, the headquarters of UNASUR and of a regional meeting, the Ecuadorian president invoked several concepts that would be food for thought for a long time such as “development is a political problem and depends on who rules in society”; “nothing justifies having courts to protect investments and not to protect nature”; “the challenges for our ancestral people to overcome poverty without losing their cultural identity”; or “we need societies with markets not of the markets”.

It needs saying: the mere fact of the existence of CELAC and that now has held four summits is a resounding proof of a “change of era” in Latin America and the Caribbean of which Correa spoke years ago. It is an important event of having created this structure in which discussions and are carried out is a palpable initiation by joint 33 States of our region have sat down without the presence of the United States or Canada. Twenty years ago it would have been unthinkable.

How did this dream become a reality? To answer the question you must look upon the streets, the barrios, the fields, the factories, the schools and offices because it was their battle and who work there who made it possible. If CELAC did not exist today but was short-lived it bequeathed important achievements and important battles of our peoples for justice, freedom and a true independence.

Particularly the large protests of the past two decades against privatization, in defense of natural resources and sovereignty that gave way to anti neo liberal governments in our America and placed in the order of the day to predict a wise Bolivarian and Marti concept of unity and regional integration.

For the Heads of State and Government to create in Mexico (2010) and definitively constitute in Caracas (2011) presided over by the unforgettable Hugo Chávez several previous events were necessary. The Caracazo, the uprising of the natives of Chiapas, the popular insurrections that overthrew several neo liberal presidents in Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador as well a other mass actions south of the Rio Bravo against the policies of free markets. It should be recalled that the immediate precedence and later support is an enormous effort by a heroic and titanic resistance of the people of Cuba against the hostility of the United States and against the criminal blockade, the Law of Cuban Adjustment that are still in force today although Obama could do much to leave them without recourse.

CELAC took an extraordinary step for civilization when it proclaimed in the 2nd Summit of Havana (2014) our region as one of peace stating the principles by which it is defined .

But it was not shelved as a declaration and following the tradition of the Group of Rio that preceded it, led to the meeting between Presidents Maduro and Santos after a conflict of the common Border in 2015 and that has played an important role in the dialogues and agreements in Havana over peace in Colombia. Also accompanying the meetings are observers from the resolution of the UN Security Council.

During the Ecuadorian presidency, CELAC has strengthened and worked hard on a future agenda that defends the battle for development and definitively end poverty in our region.

This is more important now with the presidency in the hands of the Dominican Republic. CELAC again tests its concerting capacity in face of the urgent and cannot be put off to confront, together, the economic crisis that is knocking on the doors of our region.

Up to now the organizations of integration are: UNASUR, MERCOSUR and CELAC have been able to respond effectively with political conflicts. It remains to be seen whether the crisis arises the political atmosphere necessary for a joint action in the economic field.

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