The Unity Summit of Latin American and the Caribbean

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The Unity Summit of Latin American and the Caribbean held at River Maya, Quintana Roo, last February 21-23, 2010 was attended by 26 heads from Latin America and the Caribbean. High on the agenda was a review on the solidarity in the region, as well as drawing up a common programme of political consensusbuilding, cooperation, development and integration.

The event brought an end to Mexico‘s two-year period as the Pro Tempore Secretariat of the Permanent Mechanism for Political Consultation and Consensus (Rio Group) and, at the same time, fulfilled the commitment entered into in December 2008, in Salvador, Bahía, Brazil, to hold the Second Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean on Integration and Development (CALC). The Unity Summit was thus a joint forum of the Rio Group and of CALC. During the opening of the Summit, President Felipe Calderon, stressed out the importance of integration of the Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as the integration of their economies and endeavours as the most powerful means to achieve higher levels of growth and development, ensuring the effective participation and unity in the region in terms of economy and global decisions. 

We have to be happy for having met in the Mayan Riviera, home of one of the first native settlements of our Continent, to look for mechanisms for better understanding and unity among the peoples of the area," Calderon said. As the session opened, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Patricia Espinosa, conveyed that the unity of the region has an emotional resonance because Mexico and many other nations in the region are celebrating the 200th Anniversary of their Independence. The Mexican President reaffirmed that the main objective of the Summit was to foster a single regional mechanism that brings the nations of the region together. 
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He expressed the solidarity of the Summit with Haiti in the face of its tragedy, while making a call to continue supporting the said nation.

The Summit approved two declarations: the Declaration of Cancun, and the Declaration of the Unity Summit, which established the main programmatic commitments to political and economic coordination and cooperation. In addition, eight special documents were passed on: migratory cooperation; solidarity with Haiti; a declaration on the Malvinas issue, backing Argentina‘s legitimate rights in its dispute with the UK; and a special communiqué, supporting Argentina‘s demands regarding hydrocarbon exploration on the continental platform, in terms of the persistent unilateral British actions. 

Another document expressed solidarity with Ecuador after the Financial Action Task Force included it, in a manipulative move, on the list of countries that have failed to adequately address money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Other resolutions include a condemnation of the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba. During the closing session, the Mexican President handed over the Pro Tempore Secretariat of the Rio Group to President Michelle Bachelet, wishing her success in undertaking a new stage in the organization. 

The two-day Summit of Latin American and Caribbean Unity was officially closed by President Calderon. He read the final statement of the event that was signed by all 26 participating heads of State and Government. The document reaffirmed the decision of creating the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the unitary spirit supporting it. 

In listing the underlying principles of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Mexican President said the new organization should prioritize the advancement of regional integration with a view to promoting our sustainable development, advancing our regional agenda in global forums, and having a better position in response to relevant world events.


Sources:
http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/idioma/ingles/2010/0223calderon.htm
http://hcvanalysis.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/mexico-summit-latinamerican-
caribbean-unity-arias-and-bachelet-say-adios-and-statementon-
us-blockade-of-cuba/
http://www.australianoutbackholidays.com/?p=117


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TOMÁS JAVIER CALVILLO U.
Ambassador

JOSÉ ORAMAS CADENA
Deputy Chief of Mission

MIGUEL ÁNGEL GEORGE
Third Secretary and Political Attaché

CARINA GARCÍA GUERRA
Consul and Administrative Coordinator

BETHANY MARCH ANITO
JAZMINE DIANA PANALIGAN
CHRISTIAN HOPE REYES
MARIA SAVILLO
SUGAR RAY LEONARD TORIBIO
CAROL VILLAREAL
Contributors

CLAUDIA GONZÁLEZ
Administration and Finance


El Galeón de Acapulco News (EGAN) is published by the Embajada de México en Filipinas, copyright 2010. 

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