The final photo of a new Celac summit that had Buenos Aires as its venue. Alberto F. was next to Lula/afp
Under the call for greater regional integration and to defend democracy from the “extreme right”, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held its seventh summit yesterday in Buenos Aires marked by the reincorporation of Brazil into the forum and ideological differences – such as the one marked by the president of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou- and political crises that afflict several South American countries.
The Argentine president and host, Alberto Fernández, celebrated the return of Brazil to the political forum at the hands of its three-time president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva.
In his opening speech, the Argentine head of state warned that democracy “is at risk” after sectors of “the extreme right have stood up” in some countries and urged not to allow “the recalcitrant and fascist right to put institutionality at risk. And he argued: “We saw it a few days ago when madness reached the streets of Brasilia… and also here in Argentina when someone tried to kill our vice president (Cristina Fernández de Kirchner).”
Celac’s appointment occurred at a turbulent time in South America, also as a result of protests by political dissidents in Peru and Bolivia. Although the final declaration of the summit did not include a direct reference to the crises in both countries, Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero said in a subsequent press conference that during the conclave some delegations referred to “the violation of human rights that is being carried out in Peru regarding institutional violence. For everyone it was an issue of relevance.
the defense of Alberto F.
Meanwhile, Alberto Fernández urged “respect for diversity” in reference to the criticism aroused by the participation of the governments of Venezuela, Nicaragua -its presidents Nicolás Maduro and Daniel Ortega were absent- and Cuba in the meeting between the Argentine opposition. “All those who are here have been chosen by their peoples,” said the president.
He also urged to “raise the voice” against the economic blockades that the United States applies to Cuba and Venezuela for being “a perverse method” against the peoples.
Final statement
In the final declaration, the members of Celac supported “dialogue and negotiation” between the Venezuelan government and the opposition, “promoted by the governments of Mexico and Norway.” They also called for an end to the trade blockade against Cuba, but there was no mention of Nicaragua.
The forum concluded in a document of one hundred points and eleven special declarations that the purpose of Latin America and the Caribbean is “fully aware of its projection” and is “capable of deepening consensus on issues of common interest.”
The Buenos Aires Declaration reiterated the “firmest regional support for the legitimate rights” of Argentina in the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands.
USA, by the OAS
“The Government of the United States reaffirms the value of strengthening regional collaboration through the Organization of American States (which is the OAS), the main multilateral forum in the Western Hemisphere,” was the statement issued by the Joe administration. Biden before his representative, the Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas, Christopher J. Dodd, traveled to our country.
The truth is that Alberto Fernández did not extend any invitation to the current president of the organization, the Uruguayan Luis Almagro, with whom he has had several disagreements, the main one due to the displacement of his friend Evo Morales from the Bolivian presidency.
Curiosities of the new president
Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of the Caribbean island state of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -with only 100,000 inhabitants-, will be the successor to Alberto Fernández in the Celac presidency.
In the Caribbean, they call it “Little Castro” (in reference to the Cuban Fidel). That is why he would not miss his good relations with Maduro, Ortega and Díaz-Canel. He had the support of Argentina.
