14th Iberian-American Summit calls on U.S. to repeal Helms-Burton Act
and approved an anti-terrorism statement 

BY MARIA VICTORIA VALDES-RODDA—Granma International staff writer—

THE 14th Iberian-American Summit has just concluded in Costa Rica. The summit condemned terrorism as well as unilateral decisions and actions as a mechanism of submission. The prevalence of firm principles and independence from the United States at the meeting highlighted José Aznar’s absence.

The San José Declaration, approved by the 21 participating countries, also ratified their will to promote multilateralism as the most expedite and ethical method to solve conflicts and common problems, with peace as the goal. The declaration also calls for a broad and integral reform of the United Nations. "We reiterate our adherence to international law, the goals and principles established by the UN Charter, respect for the sovereignty and juridical equality of nations, respect for territorial integrity, the peaceful solution of controversies, and protection and promotion of all human rights," the text highlights.

SPECIAL COMMUNIQUÉ IN SOLIDARITY WITH VENEZUELA

At the proposal of the Cuban delegation, presided by Carlos Lage, vice president of the Council of State, the plenary elaborated a note in support of the Venezuelan government and its people in the context of the November 18 terrorist assassination of Danilo Anderson, Venezuela’s public prosecutor. Because of this attack, President Hugo Chávez did not attend the summit.

The communiqué states that "the Ibero-American heads of state and government, meeting at the 14th San José de Costa Rica Summit, emphatically condemn the terrorist attack perpetrated yesterday in Caracas that led to the death of Public Prosecutor Danilo Anderson. We express our solidarity with His Excellency Mr. Hugo Chávez Frías, president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and the fraternal people of Venezuela over the loss of one of their most prominent officials, and we shelter the hope that those responsible for this cowardly act will be identified and punished with all the strength of the law."

The summit expressed "its emphatic rejection of the unilateral and extraterritorial enforcement of legislation and measures counter to international law such as the Helms Burton Act (against Cuba), and call on the government of the United States of America to end its enforcement."

The application of that unilateral act has intensified the conditions of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the island in recent years.

An important text was signed at the end of the summit confirming a regional commitment to oppose any form or manifestation of terrorism.

Regarding this issue, Felipe Pérez Roque, Cuban minister of foreign affairs, expressed his satisfaction because the document also includes a commitment to prevent the impunity of terrorists via their imprisonment, trial or extradition. In the case of Cuba it was confirmed that: "the countries participating in this forum will not give asylum or help to the four Cuban terrorists pardoned by the Panamanian government in August." Those terrorists are: Luis Posada Carriles, Gaspar Jiménez Escobedo, Guillermo Novo Sampol, and Pedro Remón Rodríguez.

CUBA PROPOSES ASSIGNING PEERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN DEBT TO EDUCATION

Among their problems, Latin America and the Caribbean have accumulated immense inequalities amounting to a total of 42 million illiterate people and 110 million semi-illiterate. But this complex issue cannot be seen solely in the light of educational processes since poverty is one of the primary causes of this problem.

A report by the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) indicates that poverty affects 200 million people in this continent, and almost half of them, 114 millions, are children and adolescents.

At the San José Summit, it was decided to hold a meeting of all Latin American and Iberian countries in 2005 to establish a percentage from the foreign debt to be invested in educational programs.

Lage pointed out to the plenary that in spite of the magnitude of educational problems in the region, this issue was not satisfactorily addressed in the Final Declaration. This document, furthermore, "does not address the causes of this issue," he observed.

The Cuban vice president also referred to the heavy burden of the foreign debt whose current amount is double that of 1986, and sometimes represents over half of budgets being assigned to pay the debt every year. Lage remarked that these funds should be invested in education. "With utmost modesty, I only state here that the Cuban experience and our cooperation are available to all those who would consider this help to be useful."

NEXT SUMMIT IN SALAMANCA, SPAIN

The 14th Ibero-American Summit discussed the creation of a permanent General Secretariat that could be headed by Enrique Iglesias, director of the Inter-American Development Bank.

The express purpose of this initiative (already advanced at the 10th Summit in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia) is to support heads of state and government summits. The Ibero-American General Secretariat (SGI) " should make concrete the principles and achievements of the leaders’ summits."

There were, however, several arguments because, as many experts warn, the SGI should not become a "supra" institution taking "decisions without consultation," and harming, in the end, fruitful dialogue at the summits.

Approximately 20 essential documents on different topics were agreed, such as air transportation, the Ibero-American network of judicial cooperation, the Association of Diplomatic Academies, agricultural and rural life, and collaboration between naval ports. At the San José Summit, it was also agreed that the next meeting will be in Salamanca, Spain.

HAITI: FORGOTTEN BY THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE

Regarding international relations, special communiqués were dedicated to address the situation in Haiti and Argentine demands regarding the Malvinas Islands, presently under British control.

After the passing of a special communiqué on Haiti, Lage spoke of this Caribbean nation as "being forgotten." He condemned the United States and Europe for halting aid and politically conditioning the little aid they were offering. Lage recalled how the US government has prevented agreements between financial institutions and the Haitian government from being signed in the last four years.

"Because of its high level of illiteracy, and its precarious economic and social situation, Haiti’s problems will be only solved with international support targeted to develop the country via cooperative programs in the health, infrastructure, and housing sectors," Lage noted.

He used as an example Cuba’s solidarity in the health and educational sectors as well as literacy radio programs and Cuban doctors’ work to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Haiti. Lage also highlighted the fact that 606 Haitians are studying in Cuba free of charge.

Granma International

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