Content

Peru returns to the Andean Community

Mercosur summit strengthens the integration process

Mercosur profile

Intellectual property moves forward in Central America

The Association of Caribbean States will organize a Business Forum

Ibero-American forum on social justice: integral development
with equality

Briefs

Declaration of Puebla: Latin American newspapers favour a culture of peace

Publications and WEB sites

Peru returns to the Andean Community

The result of the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of the Economy of the Andean Community of Nations (the new formal name for the Andean Pact), held in Quito on June 25 and 26 1997, was the return of Peru to the subregional group. Peru had voluntarily left the free trade area of the community in August 1992 and in April 1997 had announced its withdrawal.

The High Level group that was formed on April 23 in Sucre, during the IX Andean Presidential Council, to reach an agreement with Peru regarding its withdrawal or continuing as a member of the Cartagena Agreement (see Bulletin No. 3 on the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean), after a number of monthly meetings, reached the following conclusions:

• The member countries of the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) will sign a Liberalization Programme which will allow the incorporation of Peru into the free trade area to begin at the latest on July 31, 1997 and end in the year 2005.

• The regulations should be negotiated at the latest by July 31, 1997. The first meeting in this regard will be held from Jul 8 to 10.

• In discussing the regulations, the need for coordinating the positions of the member countries in their respective negotiations with Mercosur will be kept in mind.

• The trade regulations will be based on the proposal submitted for a "Global Agreement" which appears in document JUN/dt 427, dated April 7, 1997, of the Board of the Cartagena Agreement.

• Each year, the countries will review by mutual agreement, the implementation of the Liberalization Programme in order to give it increased impetus.

• Peru will continue to participate as a full member of the Andean Community in all the bodies and institutions of the Andean Integration System (AIS), and as an observer at the meetings of the Commission, which will discuss topics related with the external common tariff.

• A Working Group was created to provide the Commission with options for arbitration within AIS, within a period not to exceed 90 days. Every effort will be made to authorize the Commission, under the Sucre Protocol, to approve these mechanisms by decision.

Liberalization Programme
(Preferences in percentages)

In this new scenario, and beginning July 31, Peru will provide tariff-free access to its market for about 2,400 products so that it will be able to participate in the free trade area of the Andean Community. By the time the liberalization process ends in 2005, only 16 products with tariffs will remain.

Prior to September 31, Peru was successful in having the other member nations of the Andean Community commit to jointly reviewing the rules of origin and other instruments which, in the opinion of the Government of Peru, were hindering the opening up of trade, among them, a process which had begun in February 1993. This measure forms part of the "global proposal" made on April 7 and which led to Peru's separation - never formalized - from the Group, four days later.

The gradual incorporation of Peru into the Andean free trade area will be based on a division of the tariff universe into eight lists, which will have rebates ranging from 10% to 20% on July 31, except for the so-called g1 and g2a (mostly metal-mechanics products and textiles) that will have a zero tariff from that date. Each year there will be tariff rebates between Peru and other partners; until in 2005 there will only be g5-b and g-6 lists for which tariffs will need to be eliminated, with less than 20 products, almost all petroleum products, considered to be the most sensitive for Peru. Meanwhile tariffs among the five members will have been fully lifted on the majority of the agricultural products on the list from the preceding year.

The Peruvian Minister of Industry, Tourism, Integration and International Trade Negotiations, Gustavo Caillaux, who encouraged the withdrawal of his country from the Andean Group, stated at the end of the meeting: "They have ceded in some areas, and we have ceded in others. There has been willingness on both sides and there are neither winners nor losers":

The ministerial meeting in Quito also dealt with legal and institutional topics putting into motion a new structure of Andean integration approved by the Presidents of the member countries at the summit held in the Peruvian city of Trujillo, in 1996, and ratified at the summit held in Sucre, Bolivia last April (see Bulletin No. 3 on Integration). Now, the Andean Group is formally called the Andean Community of Nations and the Board of the Cartagena Agreement has been replaced by a Secretariat General headed by the Venezuelan Ambassador, Sebastián Alegrett. Following Peru's return to the Andean Community, the headquarters of the subregional block will continue to be in Lima.

Meeting with MERCOSUR postponed to august

The meeting of Andean Ministers of Economy and their colleagues from the Common Market of the South, which was to be held on June 25, Cartagena, was postponed because the Andean meeting in Quito was expanded to consider the case of Peru. Nonetheless, the rapprochement with MERCOSUR continues to be one of the priorities of the Andean Community and the time lag in the schedule for negotiations will be remedied by the next two meetings: a ministerial meeting of both blocks to be held in Asunción the 23 and 24 of August, within the framework of the Rio Group meeting, and an earlier meeting of the MERCOSUR - Andean Community negotiators, in Montevideo, on July 17, to discuss matters and make progress prior to the ministerial meeting.

Mercosur summit strengthens the integration process

The XII Summit of the member countries of the Common Market of the South (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), with Bolivia and Chile attending, held in Asunción from June 18 to 20, 1997, concluded with the Presidents ratifying that the Customs Union must be perfected and a Common Trade Policy consolidated to strengthen the identity of the block.

In the final joint communiqué, Presidents Carlos Menem, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Juan Carlos Wasmosy and Julio María Sanguinetti stated that "additional efforts" are needed so that continued progress can be made in the integration process begun 6 years ago.

"The strengthening of MERCOSUR implies, among other initiatives, addressing topics such as public services and policies that affect competition and government purchases", they expressed; thus strongly introducing the important topic onto the agenda of the group, which will favour a joint position by MERCOSUR in the negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

The two associated countries, Bolivia and Chile, also participated in the Asunción Summit. It was precisely the President of Chile, Eduardo Frei, who emphasized his proposal of reaching a political agreement in order to achieve a true integration in the South, and strengthen its negotiating capacity for when the time comes to negotiate the FTAA.

Frei pointed out that while Chile's negotiations to join the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have had meager results, his country and MERCOSUR "were more successful than ever in giving impulse" to the free trade policy in Latin America. He considered that the topics of interest in the subregion, and not only the agenda that the United States wishes to impose as a priority, should be included at the next Summit of the Americas (Santiago, March 1998) when negotiations for ALCA will begin.

MERCOSUR is requesting access to the North American market for agricultural, textile and manufactured products; while the United States is proposing, as a priority, addressing matters such as investments, liberalization of financial services and protection of intellectual property.

The Presidents of the South also emphasized their current expectations of concluding this year, trade negotiations currently underway with the Andean Community, Peru and Mexico.

With respect to negotiation on free trade by the block with the European Union, there was a proposal for an exchange of information and permanent consulting between MERCOSUR and Chile, which are separately negotiating treaties.

Brazil extends exceptions Brazil, on the other hand, reached an agreement with its MERCOSUR partners to extend the differential treatment for exports of the block for another 120 days, in the framework of the provisional measure decreed by Brasilia to restrict financing of imports.

At April, with a provisional measure by the Central Bank, Brazil decreed that all financed shipments over US$20,000 must be paid for by importers, instead of at the maturity date for the credit (30, 60 or 90 days). Thus, the Brazilian Government transferred to the importers themselves the financial cost that it had borne when the importers deposited the money and obtained a spread until they paid the loan. Importers, mainly in Argentina, protested against the measure.

Brazil granted its MERCOSUR partners, Chile and Bolivia, a different treatment so that the maximum amount could be increased to US$ 40,000 with financing of up to 90 days. But the World Trade Organization is questioning Brazil's actions because it considers the measure to be favourable for MERCOSUR and discriminatory against third countries.

At the Asunción Summit, important agreements were also reached in other areas, not exclusively in the economic or trade areas, as for example: cooperation and jurisdictional assistance in civil, trade, labour and administrative matters - an agreement which was prepared by the Ministers of Justice; and in education, the recognition of university degrees, so graduates can engage in academic activities in MERCOSUR countries.

The Presidency of MERCOSUR, which rotates for a six-month period and was exercised by Paraguay to date, was transferred to Uruguay beginning July 1.

Mercosur profile

The Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) was created by the Asunción Treaty, signed on 26 March 1991. Following a transition period, it was widened by the Ouro Preto Protocol, signed on 14 December 1994.

MEMBER COUNTRIES: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.

ASSOCIATED COUNTRIES: Chile and Bolivia.

AREA: 11,8 million km2 (about 60% of Latin American territory)

POPULATION: 204.5 million

INSTITUTIONS:
Pursuant to the Asunción Treaty and the Ouro Preto Protocol, the institutional structure of MERCOSUR emcompases on the following bodies:

I. The Common Market Council (CMC) is the highest authority, responsible for the policies of the integration process and decision-making. It is formed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministers of Economy or their equivalent. The Chairmanship of the Council is rotated among the Member States every six months, by alphabetical order.

II. The Common Market Group (GMC is the executive body of MERCOSUR in charge of negotiating with third parties by mandate of the CMC. It is coordinated by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and includes 4 regular members and 4 deputy members for each country, among which may be present representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economy, and the Central Banks. The GMC has the following Working Sub-Groups: i) Trade Issues; ii) Customs Issues; iii) Technical Rules; iv) Trade-Related Fiscal and Monetary Policies; v) Road Transportation; vi) Sea Transportation; vii) Industrial and Technological Policy; viii) Agricultural Policy; ix) Energy Policy; and x) Coordination of Macroeconomic Policies.

III. The MERCOSUR Trade Commission (CCM) is the body in charge of assisting the GMC and guaranteeing the enforcement of common trade policy instruments for the operation of the customs union; it also follows up and reviews common trade policies. The CCM is formed by 4 regular members and 4 deputy members, and meets at least once a month.

IV. The Joint Parliamentary Commission (CPC) is the representative body of the Parliaments in MERCOSUR's member countries. The CPC makes recommendations to the CMC and the GMC. Its functions include supporting the enforcement of those rules generated by the bodies of MERCOSUR's member countries, and contribute to harmonize the different legislation systems.

V. The Economic-Social Consultation Forum (FCES) represents the economic and social sectors, and is formed by the same number of representatives of each member country. It serves as consultation mechanism and formulates recommendations for the GMC.

VI. The Administrative Secretariat of MERCOSUR (SAM) gives operative support and is responsible for providing services to the rest of MERCOSUR's bodies.

Achievements

• Liberalization of Intra-regional Trade.

  The transition period to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade among Mercosur's member countries was characterized by a simultaneous and unilateral liberalization within the bloc and a liberalization programme for the sub-region. From June 1991 a preferential tariff of 47% on all products was applied, thus giving way to the total liberalization implemented on 31 December 1994. By the end of 1994, Argentina and Brazil had met the essential part of their commitments; Paraguay and Uruguay, which still had an additional year, were responding favourably. At that point, the free trade regime covered approximately 90% of the tariff regime, and the expectations were that the 100% mark would be attained by the year 2000.

• Common Trade Policy

  The Common External Tariff (CET), which is applied to imports from third countries and which entered into force in early 1995, is the main formal trade policy instrument. In 1992, agreement was reached on the basic structure of the CET and exemption lists classified by countries, mainly in the automotive, sugar and textile sectors; a schedule was set up to eliminate these exemption lists, within a relatively short period.

Other achievements

• definition of a common tariff nomenclature;

• preparation of a customs glossary;

• presentation of national proposals for a common safeguard policy;

• simplification of cross-border steps for the transit of people and goods;

• reduction of the barriers to trade in agricultural products;

• harmonization of technical rules and regulations, as well as of national tax regimes; and preparation of a comparative analysis on the member countries' working systems.

Prospects

The Program of Action for the Year 2000, approved by the four presidents in Punta del Este in December 1996, established objectives such as: to strengthen regional integration through the implementation of a customs union; consolidate free trade and the intra-group competition conditions; enhance the common trade policy; strengthen judicial and institutional frameworks; and develop negotiation processes with third countries. This Programme also considers exchanges in the fields of education, culture and development of human resources.

Intellectual property moves forward in Central America

By Telasco Pulgar
Chief Coordinator for Integration and Cooperation/SELA

Recently achieved advances made by the Central American region include specific steps forward in the area of intellectual property. In this respect, the governments and organizations of that subregion have made considerable efforts to adapt to the new international regulations and comply with the agreements assumed under the WTO and in universal intellectual property conventions.

One of the first items to take note of in this respect is that this region now counts on an autochthonous intellectual property work programme. Said programme, which operates independently from the competent international organizations, is based on a well-founded awareness of Central American realities. This programme is being developed by the Permanent Secretariat of the General Treaty on Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (AID) and in response to the objective aimed at supporting training, dissemination, and specialization efforts focused on the most important aspects of intellectual property. At the same time, the programme aims to contribute to the advancement of the legislative and institutional reform process, already several years under way in the Central American region.

According to the information provided by SIECA, this programme, which in its early stages was referred to as the "Diagnosis of the Situation of Intellectual Property in Central America and Panama," has a three-year timeframe. The fundamental pillars of the programme are detailed below:

Dissemination

A number of dissemination activities will be developed to heighten public awareness of intellectual property rights and to foster respect for intellectual property rights and compliance with same on the basis of general training programmes, and more particularly, specialized seminars. Likewise, regular use of mass media, more specifically the press, will be relied on. In this respect, a quarterly bulletin is already circulating. This bulletin, whose first edition appeared in March 1997, focuses on disseminating the main aspects of the intellectual property situation in Central America. Another facet of these programmes is to train journalists in this area.

Specialized Training

Training and updating activities are being considered for those sectors of Central American society linked, in some manner, to the legal applications and management of intellectual property. These activities would be aimed at judges, attorneys, police officials, customs administrators, and lawyers, among others.

Guidance and Protection

In order to foster modifications aimed at facilitating the administration of justice and the settlement of disputes, particularly on the basis of joint endeavours carried forth by legal bodies, law schools, and legal associations through the region, the work being performed in this field of action targets those legal systems currently in force vis-à-vis intellectual property. This activity also encompasses promoting, when deemed necessary, adherence to international conventions with competence in arbitrage.

Strengthening of Registry Offices and SIECA in the area of Intellectual Property

This is another work area of significance meant to provide support in carrying out the modernization of Intellectual Property Registries and in developing, within SIECA, updated and reliable data bases of regional scope. These improvements will lead to timely procedures and facilitate the provision of technical assistance from cooperating organizations. In this respect, plans are being drawn to hold workshops at the Registries, carry out trainee programmes at the headquarters of USPTO, the Library of Congress and U.S. Department of Agriculture, and to design SIECA's Internet home page on intellectual property.

Standardization of Registration Criteria

The objective pursued in this area of work is to lend support to the registration offices by standardizing registration criteria for the application of common regulations on intellectual property. This standardization will facilitate the work by rendering the activities more timely.

Cross-border Measures

A comparative law study on the protection of cross-border intellectual property rights will be prepared to ease the application of the needed customs measures, on the basis of internationally-agreed understandings. A seminar is also being planned to treat this issue.

Ties with Universities

An effort is being made to make intellectual property a mandatory area of study at universities throughout Central America. This would spark interest in this realm of work as well as prepare professionals to deal with its concerns.

Biotechnology Sector

In addition to disseminating know-how in biotechnology and stressing its importance for Central America's economic development, various events are being designed to promote the drafting of Central American biotechnology legislation. These events include: the preparation of diagnosis studies on the development of biotechnology in Central America at legal and practical levels, and the establishment of a Central American Group to discuss this important issue.

As may be glimpsed, the short-term implementation of this program in the Central American region will consolidate and deepen the process of legislative and institutional update in the field of intellectual property. Undoubtedly, the region will thus be better positioned to meet the deadlines set by WTO.

SELA's Permanent Secretariat has been providing assistance to Central American countries in the field of intellectual property, as well as in other areas; and is willing to support SIECA in the modernization and adaptation of legislations responsible for Copyright and Neighbouring Rights according to new international requirements, particularly those generated from the TRIPs Agreement.

Indeed, pursuant to the mandates of the Latin American Council of SELA, the Permanent Secretariat organized the Workshop for Experts in Copyright and Neighbouring Rights within the framework of the Application of the TRIPS Agreement in Central America. This event, sponsored by UNESCO and cosponsored by the Government of Costa Rica, was held in San José, Costa Rica from 5 to 7 May. The objective of the seminar was to extend support to the countries of Central America in their process of modernization and adaptation of legislation and management institutions concerning copyright and rights related to new international requirements, particularly those stemming from the TRIPS Agreement.

This Workshop closely examined modern legislative trends in Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, the fundamental objectives of recent reforms and experiences in several countries of the region in their staunch quest for achieving reform as dictated by the international agreements they have committed themselves to, particularly under the TRIPS Agreement.

The most significant recommendations made by participating experts were:

1. To continue the follow-up and exchange information and experiences on this issue between national competent offices and interested sectors, and hold ad hoc meetings on a regular basis. The Secretariats of SELA and SIECA will coordinate, in a joint fashion, the development of these tasks;

2. That the SELA Permanent Secretariat prepare a study on the economic importance of copyright and neighbouring rights in the region and yet another study on measures for compliance with intellectual property rights, in accordance with the pertinent International Conventions, and examine, at the next meeting of the Regional Forum on Intellectual Property, the problem of meeting the grace period granted to the countries of the Region for compliance with the commitments stemming from TRIPS;

3. To adhere to or ratify the Multilateral Treaties on copyright and neighbouring rights based on universality, when applicable, and to the new treaties of WIPO on Copyright and interpretations or presentations and phonograms; and

4. To stimulate the realization of training courses at different levels aimed especially at the national authorities entrusted with the application of legislation on copyright and neighbouring rights, as well as the creation of courses on this issue at university level.

Finally, it is worthwhile noting that one month following the conclusion of the Workshop, the Government of Costa Rica appointed a commission presided by the National Director of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, entrusted with the responsibility of being well informed on said recommendations. Said Commission also has the responsibility of drafting legislation aimed at reforming Costa Rica's Copyright and respective Regulation.

The Association of Caribbean States will organize a Business Forum

The ACS Committee on Trade Development and External Economic Relations, at its second meeting in Cartagena, Colombia, agreed to hold in November 1997, a Business Forum to promote the development of trade and investment among its Member States.

Figures produced by the ACS Secretariat demonstrate that whereas a significant level of trade is taking place among integration groupings in the region, there is considerable room for the expansion of inter-group trade. In the most extreme case reported in terms of the trade gap, in 1995 intra-CACM exports accounted for 73.5% of total CACM exports to the ACS while its exports to G3 and CARICOM countries represented 8.7% and 7.5% respectively of total exports to the ACS.

The Forum, which will be hosted by Colombia, will be held concurrently with the Third Ministerial meeting of the ACS also scheduled to be held in Cartagena in the second half of November.

The agenda approved by the Committee and representatives of the Business Sector will include discussions on export and import capacities and procedures, development and exchange of trade information, tourism projects and proposal for joint marketing of tourism destinations as well as transport and other infrastructure to faciliate trade.

The meeting will also discuss payments systems, including the suitability of the ALADI system of clearance and payments for supporting intra-ACS trade.

The Business Forum will be preceded by a meeting of Trade Promotion Offices of the member States of the ACS.

Also within the context of trade liberalization and facilitation, the Committeee agreed to undertake a study to identify the obstacles to intra-ACS trade and to make recommendations for their progressive elimination.

While agreeing to the study, the Committee recognised that the absence of relevant, up-to-date information was an important obstacle to advancing trade and investment within the region. In this regard it was agreed that the ACS Secretariat would establish its Home Page on the Internet which would include trade and business opportunities within the ACS. As some of this information already exists in various regional and sub-regional organisations, the ACS Secretariat will be expected to make contact wih these organisations and Secretariats with a view ti accesing this information for its Home Page.

Thewe was also recognition, that for the optimal functioning of this information "network", there may need to be a basic level of harmonisation of policies and of formats for compiling information among Secretariats. Member States were also asked to support the development of the trade data base by sending the Secretariat the required information on market access conditions and requirements, existing trade agreements, services available to importers/exporters, among others.

At the next meeting of the Committee which may take place before the end of the year, discussions are expected to continue on modalities for the gradual and progressive liberalization of trade within the ACS.

Ibero-American forum on social justice: integral development with equality

In the framework of the VII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held on the Venezuelan Island of Margarita in November and whose central theme will be "The Ethical Values of Democracy", the Government of Venezuela, as pro tempore Secretariat, organized the Ibero-American Forum on Social Justice: Integral Development with Equality, held at SELA headquarters in Caracas, on June 19 and 20, 1997.

The purpose of the international forum was to create a space for reflecting on ties between the concepts of social justice and democracy, in the light of economic, social and cultural factors of the globalization process.

The forum was part of the activities of the pro tempore Secretariat in preparation for the Ibero-American Summit and was held, under the auspices of the International Cooperation Agency of Spain (ACEI), the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Latin American Economic System (SELA).

The organizers pointed out that, in a world where social ostracism is one of the most serious manifestations of the current international system, it is imperative to orient values, objectives and priorities toward improving the lot of each and every individual.

With the liberalization of the economies, the countries of the region are taking the necessary steps to actively participate in the new international scenario, both with their contributions to the negotiating process for an international trade regime, and with their participation as regional integration groupings. However, the globalization process is contributing to accentuate extreme poverty, increasing unemployment and concentration of technical progress, affecting the primordial functions of the State as a promoter of equality and social justice.

From this perspective, the topics addressed at the Forum were:

- Citizenship and democracy, as essential expressions of social justice;

- The strength of change in the world system and international social justice;

- Articulation of the economic and social and the new role of the state;

- Relationship between the employment-social integration and poverty-social ostracism binomials;

- The role of cooperation in a Latin American agenda of growth with equality; and

- Economic growth and social equality: Balance and perspectives for Ibero-American nations;

The Forum was installed by the President of the Republic of Venezuela, Rafael Caldera. Among the speakers were the following: Enrique Iglesias, President of the IDB; Hernando Gómez Buendía, representing the UNDP; Rebeca Gryspan, Vice-President of Costa Rica; Ambassador Afonso Arinos de Melo Franco from Brazil; Senator Albero Curiel from Uruguay; Carlos Franco from Peru; Horst Grebe from Bolivia; the Spanish professors José Antonio Pastor Ridruejo, Celestino Gacía Marcos and Justo Villafañe; the Minister of the Family of Venezuela, Carlos Altimari; Ambassador Alfredo Toro Hardy; Professor Augusto De Venanzi; former Ministers Mercedes Pulido de Briceño and Enrique Pérez Olivares; the diplomat Oscar de Rojas; and one of the leaders of the Social-Christian Party COPEI, Eduardo Fernández.

Briefs

Jamaica joins CAF

Jamaica became the sixth partner, outside the Andean region, of Corporación Andina de Fomento, after formalizing its membership in this entity, the financial branch of the Andean Community of Nations, at an official ceremony in Kingston on June 27th.

With Jamaica's membership in CAF, the "C" category partners, or those from outside the Andean area, are more numerous than the Andean partners if we add Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago; while the principal members and beneficiaries of annual credits of about US$ 2.400 billion are Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.

CAF, with headquarters in Caracas, reported that it had approved a loan of US$100 million for Ecuador, earmarked to finance the Global Program of Multi-Sector Credits and the Fund for Small Industry and Handicrafts.

Meeting of Vice-Ministers of Economy of Central America

The Third Meeting of Vice-Ministers of Economy of Central America was held in San José, Costa Rica, on 4 and 5 June, 1997, where, among other matters, the future trade agreements were analyzed, reported SIECA.

Some of the topics addressed by the Vice-Ministers were the analysis of the Free Trade Treaty with Panama, and the current status of trade relations between Central America and Colombia and Venezuela.

SIECA also presented the PROALCA Project, which will serve to motivate participation by the region in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), mainly through trade liberalization and the general framework of the policy for investments.

Andean University inaugurates the School of Integration

The Simón Bolívar Andean University in Sucre, Bolivia, inaugurated an international seminar as the first activity of its School of Integration.

At opening ceremonies for the event, the President of the University, Enrique Ayala (from Ecuador) presented a project according to which the School for Integration will be a Latin American center specifically devoted to studying the international system and regional economic integration.

Beginning next year, the School will have a Graduate program and will establish ties with academic centers in the United States and Europe and with international organizations.

Declaration of Puebla: Latin American newspapers favour a culture of peace

Publishers and editors of Latin American newspapers met in Puebla, Mexico on 16 and 17 May, attending the invitation made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to sign a declaration for the promotion of a culture of peace, based on freedom of expression, dialogue and cooperation.

In this declaration, the signees declare that:

• Freedom of expression is the fundamental condition ton ensure that a culture of peace permeates the continent;

• History shows that the generalization and dissemination of violence are traditionally preceded by and accompanied with hostility towards and silencing of free press;

• A culture of peace implies dialogue with and awareness of others, through widespread and free flow of ideas, expressed mainly by the independent press;

• Internal harmony in societies and peaceful understanding among nations demand transparency in information and opinion, to overcome differences and build agreements;

• UNESCO has acknowledged that the mass media, acting in a free environment, may make a capital contribution to a culture of peace by disseminating everybody's points of views and opinions, without violence and with feelings of understanding and respect for our fellow men.

The publishers and editors who participated in this meeting believe that pacific and creative understanding and tolerance, as well as the educational potential of the press to transmit those values inspired in respect for life and dignity of humankind, and to promote cooperation in order to consolidate a culture of peace.

In view of the aforementioned, the signees:

• Ratify their commitment to non-violence;

• Express their wish to develop forms of consultation to avoid new escalations of any manifestation of violence;

• Renew their commitment vis-à-vis a society that lives in peace and moving away from a the culture of violence adopting instead a culture of peace;

• Welcome and support the decision made by the publishers of Ecuadorian and Peruvian newspapers present at the meeting to continue with the encounters aimed at creating and maintaining a framework of informative transparency in both countries' relationships on the road to peace;

• Convene all media to condemn any initiative oriented at promoting a culture of war and express their concern for the recent suspension of an embargo on the sale of high technology weapons, which now can be sold in the region and could lead to an arms race, and whose costs will undoubtedly reduce the funds allocated to the mission that summons us to this meeting, namely the promotion of a culture of peace;

• Express their concern over the present concentration of mass media at world level endangering freedom of expression and limiting the diversity of information and opinion, at the very basis for a culture of peace;

• Proclaim that freedom of the press include the right to inform all citizens.

• Condemn all methods used by governments to attempt against freedom of expression and, particularly, any economic pressure exerted against mass media and journalists.

• Suggest that UNESCO supports cooperation among the different media, in order to promote information exchanges on the culture of peace.

• Call on the United Nations to declare 1999 as the "International Year for the Culture of Peace."

• Express their gratitude to Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO, for his initiative in favour of a culture of peace and the invitation to hold this meeting.

• Thank the Government of the State of Puebla and, in particular, its Governor, Manuel Bartlett Díaz for sponsoring the meeting and for the kind hospitality offered by the friendly city of Puebla, cultural patrimony of humankind.

Publications and WEB sites

The Bolivar Programme dealing with regional technological integration and industrial innovation and competitiveness, reported that it has a Web site with the following address: www.programa-bolivar.org

 

Note:
The Latin American and Caribbean Integration Bulletin is published by the Permanent Secretariat of SELA, financed with funds from the International programme for the Development of Communications (PIDC) in the framework of the UNESCO-SELA Agreement on "Communication for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean".

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