| Title |
International
Migrations
in Latin America and the Caribbean
Edition Nº 65
May-August 2002
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| Author: |
Permanent Secretariat of SELA |
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Index |
CONSENSUS OF GUAYAQUIL
ON INTEGRATION, SECURITY
AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT
1. At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Gustavo Noboa Bejarano,
the Heads of State of Argentina, Eduardo Duhalde; Bolivia, Jorge Quiroga; Brazil, Fernando
Henrique Cardoso; Chile, Ricardo Lagos; Colombia, Andres Pastrana; Paraguay, Luis Angel
González Macchi; Peru, Alejandro Toledo; Venezuela, Hugo Chávez; Uruguay, Luis Hierro
López, Vice-President of the Republic, representing President Jorge Batlle; Guyana,
Samuel R. Insanally, Minister of Foreign Affairs, representing President Bharrat Jagdeo;
and Suriname, Maria Elizabeth Levens, Minister of Foreign Affairs, representing President
Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, were present at the Second Meeting of Presidents of South
America held in the city of Guayaquil, on July 26 and 27, 2002, on the occasion of the one
hundred and eightieth anniversary of the meeting between the Liberators Simón Bolívar
and José de San Martín.
Top officials from various international organizations were also present.
2. The Presidents reiterated their will to continue promoting actions of coordination and
cooperation with a view to creating a common South American space, and in this regard they
reaffirmed the set of guidelines laid out at the various presidential summits that have
been held, particularly the First Meeting of the Presidents of South America, held in
Brasilia in the year 2000. They particularly cited the following:
a) Their commitment to
democracy and to the democratic principles adopted in the region and enshrined in
International Law, in their own Constitutions, in the Charter of the Organization of
American States, and in the Inter-American Democratic Charter adopted in Lima in September
2001, in the context of which they reaffirmed their decision to coordinate actions
whenever democracy is endangered in any of their countries. The crises of financing and
scarcity of resources for productive investment can weaken or undermine the bases of
democracy, since they hinder the satisfaction of the population's legitimate aspirations
of access to decent jobs and minimal conditions of well-being. The Presidents thus
highlighted the importance of promoting, at the international level, the establishment of
a financial solidarity mechanism to back democracy and governance.
b) Their efforts to seek a world of greater justice and solidarity based on unfaltering
respect for the values of representative democracy and its components, human rights,
international law, and disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as
an essential foundation of the process of South American cooperation and integration, as
well as their firm support for the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes; their
determination to fight poverty and social exclusion, to ensure the rights of migrants, to
protect the environment, to strive towards gradual trade liberalization and access to
technology, and to promote investment and stable capital flows.
c) The indissoluble link between the democratic system and full respect for human rights,
enabling the full exercise of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the universal and inalienable right to development.
In this spirit, they commended the adoption of the Andean Human Rights Charter because it
is an instrument of special importance for achieving these objectives in that subregion.
d) Their belief that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is essential for sustainable
human development. They noted with concern its continuing decrease and therefore exhorted
once again the international community to urgently increase such assistance under the
terms of the Monterrey Declaration on Development Financing. They also noted with interest
the proposal made by the President of Venezuela, to create an international humanitarian
fund, with the understanding that no fiscal resources should be committed by developing
countries.
e) Their commitment to the fight against the international drug problem and related
crimes, bearing in mind the principle of shared responsibility and from the perspective of
integral, balanced cooperation. In this regard, they emphasized the efforts deployed by
various countries in the areas of prevention of consumption, money laundering,
environmental protection and alternative development, the sustainability of which calls
for greater market access to substitute products.
f) The urgency of adopting and improving mechanisms to eliminate corruption by
implementing all measures that make it possible to prevent, investigate, prosecute, take
to trial and punish according to law the perpetrators and accomplices of this crime. They
underlined the work carried out within the framework of the Inter-American Convention
Against Corruption, which constitutes an important international example in this area.
g) Their concern about the maintenance and increase of agricultural subsidies in developed
countries, which distort the conditions of competition on the international market.
3. Inspired by the vocation and
aspiration of our peoples to attain a future of fruitful and peaceful coexistence and of
permanent cooperation and well-being, they adopted the Declaration regarding a South
American Peace Zone. They also underscored the initiatives aimed at promoting efforts in
the area of gradual limitations on defense spending and greater transparency in arms
acquisitions, bearing in mind, among other things, the States' legitimate security needs,
the advisability of allocating more resources to the fight against poverty, and the
consideration of the topic from bilateral, regional and hemispheric perspectives. In this
context, they noted the decision of the OAS General Assembly that this topic form part of
the agenda of the Hemispheric Security Commission.
4. The Presidents reiterated their strongest condemnation of terrorism it all its forms
and manifestations as a threat to international peace and security as well as to human
life and dignity, and to peaceful and civilized coexistence, thus endangering the
stability and consolidation of democracy. They reaffirmed the need for countries to fight
for its elimination in a coordinated manner, in strict compliance with the rights and
observance of the applicable rules of the United Nations Charter and International Law in
general. The Heads of State recalled their firm condemnation of the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001; their immediate recurrence to the Inter-American Security System,
particularly TIAR; and their complete willingness to implement the resolutions of the
United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly. They also highlighted the
Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Combat and Eliminate Terrorism, adopted during the
Thirty-Second General Assembly of the OAS, and the tasks carried out by the Inter-American
Committee on Terrorism (CICTE).
5. In the context of the meeting convoked by President Noboa, the Presidents emphasized
that, true to the mandate of its Liberators and its identity as a region with a common
history and a shared cultural heritage, South America wishes to build an integrated area,
through coordination and by eliminating any obstacles that hinder the strengthening of
physical links and the harmonization of the institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks
of its countries. The achievement of this goal will enable the region to participate more
fully in international capital, goods and technology flows, since its geography provides
an extraordinary physical foundation for the intensification of its efforts to integrate
production, infrastructure and trade.
6. In this context, the Presidents reiterated the importance of expanding and
strengthening regional infrastructure as an essential factor for the integration of South
America's economic space and the development of its countries, the mitigation of poverty
and the incorporation of individuals, particularly from the marginal or more vulnerable
sectors, into the benefits of modern society. In this perspective, they recognized that
the interrelationship between infrastructure and development must be explored with a
strategic vision, with a South American approach, and under the principle of an open
regionalism, conditional on the results of an analysis of five underlying principles: a)
geo-economic perspective; b) social sustainability; c) economic efficiency; d)
environmental sustainability; and e) institutional development.
7. Convinced that the physical integration of the South American space will optimize the
region's huge economic potential and its ability to compete by adding value to its natural
resources, benefiting the synergy and specialization of strategic sectors, and enabling
the improvement of the income levels and well-being of the populations of the region, the
Presidents agreed to strengthen and deepen South American integration by means of active
policies to accelerate economic growth on a sustainable basis, reduce vulnerability to
external factors, improve the distribution of wealth, and decrease poverty levels in the
region.
8. The Heads of State reaffirmed the relevance and strategic importance of the Initiative
for Regional Infrastructure Integration in South America (IIRSA), as a viable instrument
for multisectoral integration in the various Caribbean, Pacific and Atlantic coastal
areas, in non-coastal areas of South America, and between these areas; and they ratified
full support for its implementation as an appropriate approach to:
a) promote and facilitate the
economic and social development of South America;
b) improve the international competitiveness of the region, increase its participation in
the world economy and be better prepared to face the challenges imposed by globalization;
and
c) strengthen regional integration and cooperation by expanding markets, promoting the
convergence of public policies and achieving the social and cultural rapprochement of
South America.
9. The Presidents welcomed and
emphasized the significant progress made by the twelve South American countries as a whole
in the framework of the Initiative for Regional Infrastructure Integration in South
America (IIRSA), as defined in the Brasilia Communiqué of September 2000 and implemented
through its Action Plan, agreed upon at the Meeting of Ministers in Montevideo on December
4-5 of that year. They also noted the concrete achievements presented at the Meeting in
the respective Report, including the identification of 162 transportation, energy and
telecommunications projects. They likewise highlighted the joint efforts of the
Inter-American Development Bank, the Andean Development Corporation, and the Financial
Fund for the Development of the River Plate Basin comprising the Technical Coordination
Committee of the Initiative, which is a fundamental pillar of its implementation and
ensures the stability and continuity of the process.
10. The Heads of State underlined that the Third Meeting of the Executive Steering
Committee (ESC), held in Brasilia on May 26-27, 2002, established important guidelines to
fortify the future development of IIRSA. In particular they:
a) took cognizance, with
satisfaction, of the request to the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) to develop
consolidated activities based on a strategic South American vision, according to the
principles enumbrated in the records of that meeting.
b) applauded the ESC's initiative of seeking innovative financing mechanisms for regional
infrastructure projects that will make it possible to increase the capacity for attracting
investments.
c) reaffirmed the guiding principles established at that meeting, aimed at facilitating
and encouraging private sector participation in IIRSA, which should harmonize policies and
actions with national entities that promote private investment, to enable the development
of projects in a regional context.
In this context, the Heads of
State decided to instruct the TCC, through the ESC, to speed up the implementation of
these actions.
11. They also emphasized that
public and private efforts together with those of the multilateral lending agencies will
permit:
a) the financing of capital
contributions by the State sector;
b) the financing of private investment;
c) the study of innovative means that would make it possible to reorient indebtedness
policies for multinational projects considering the beneficiary Parties as a whole, as
well as to seek flexible debt limits.
12. Advised of the results of
the Third Meeting of the ESC and of the South American Integration Initiatives, the Heads
of State expressed their deep satisfaction with:
a) the signing of the
"Memorandum of Understanding for the Development of a Connections Infrastructure for
Transport between Bolivia and Chile," which established a bilateral group to study
the development of connections between those two countries and to hold discussions in
order to continue designing a physical integration infrastructure for binational
transportation;
b) the commitment of the Foreign Ministers of Guyana and Venezuela to establish a
Technical Committee to examine a direct connection between both countries via a highway
that would complement the connection already provided for in the
Brazil-Guyana-Suriname-Venezuela axis, in keeping with IIRSA objectives.
13. The Presidents underlined
the far-reaching importance of prioritizing and implementing the integration and
development axes provided for within the IIRSA framework, and their positive effects in
promoting a climate of understanding and cooperation. In this context they noted:
a) the agreements between
Bolivia-Chile and Guyana-Venezuela, which are IIRSA results and reaffirmed their
conviction that the interest of the South American countries in concrete development
projects can contribute to regional integration in a spirit of mutual understanding and
cooperation.
b) the importance of the efforts deployed on the basis of the Physical Integration
Protocol between Chile and MERCOSUR and by the Mixed Chilean-Argentinean Technical Group
as valid forums for a road and railroad infrastructure.
c) the relevance of the commitments assumed by Brazil and Paraguay to promote
infrastructure connections in the areas of transportation, communications and energy,
which will constitute an invaluable contribution to strengthening the interoceanic axis
that passes through and links regions of Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and
Peru.
d) the importance of the Amazon Multimodal Axis, which through its two branch highways
will benefit the Amazonian countries by extending their economies into the Pacific and
Atlantic basins.
e) the need to particularly bear in mind the situation of countries with geographical
obstacles for access to international markets by ocean routes.
f) their decision that the cooperation schemes in the scope of IIRSA should especially
take into account the harmonious and sustainable development of populations, respecting
the particular features of their cultures, particularly with regard to indigenous
populations.
14. The Presidents decided to
instruct their representatives to multilateral agencies, IDB, ADC, FONPLATA and the IBRD,
to award priority to projects implemented within the IIRSA scope.
15. They expressed their satisfaction with Uruguay's recent entry into the Andean
Development Corporation and Argentina's signing of the instruments of adherence, thereby
completing the membership of all the MERCOSUR countries and Chile in that organization.
16. The Presidents reaffirmed the strategic role that energy plays in South America's
social and economic development. In the process of regional infrastructure integration,
they stressed the need to increase the levels of security, reliability and quality of
energy supplies in South America, and the appropriateness of developing regional energy
markets with practices that are compatible with the principles of sustainable development.
To move forward in this endeavor, they noted the advisability of increasing coordination
at both the national and regional levels.
17. The Presidents agreed on the importance and need to expand and deepen energy
cooperation and integration processes in the South American region. They recognized the
significant progress made in this area which has made it possible to formulate and realize
important interconnection and energy exchange projects. In this context they also
recommended the promotion of activities to explore and seek alternatives sources in those
countries that have energy resource deficits, and to seek mechanisms to provide assistance
to countries that declare energy emergencies.
18. It was underscored that suitable and progressive harmonization of legal and technical
frameworks, especially in matters of energy transport, interconnections, fuel
specifications and similar instruments of energy sector trade in the region, is an
important factor for regional economic integration, to promote the development of a more
open market, without any barriers that can limit free trade in energy, under the
principles of free access and non-discrimination. For this purpose, they took note of the
document entitled "Proposal for the Harmonization of the Andean Community Regulatory
Frameworks."
19. With respect to private and public investment in this sector, the Presidents stated
their firm determination to create and consolidate the establishment of wider markets and
to improve mechanisms facilitating direct foreign investment flows to the region within a
framework of legal stability. They likewise emphasized the important role played by the
public and private sectors, and the alliances between them, and agreed to consolidate the
conditions of regulatory stability and transparency that support them, under each
country's national legislation.
20. The Heads of State also emphasized the importance of diversifying energy sources in
their respective countries, stressing that the joint development of energy resources will
provide a high degree of energy capacity, efficiency, reliability and sustainability for
the region. They stressed the advisability of stimulating electric power interconnections
between countries of the region. They also recognized the potential of natural gas,
together with other energy sources and resources such as hydroelectricity, solar energy,
wind energy and biofuels.
21. The Presidents ratified their decision to continue implementing programs to increase
electricity service coverage and to improve the quality and reliability of electric power,
emphasizing the role of the energy sector in policies to overcome poverty. They
recognized, once again, the importance of the public and private sectors and the alliances
between the two, in meeting that objective. They emphasized that the electrification of
rural and marginal urban areas poses one of the greatest political, social and economic
challenges to the governments of the region.
22. The Presidents highlighted the need to develop an energy services sector that will
establish productive linkages with the regional economy and guide the strengthening of the
sector, with a view to greater participation in the added value of these services and the
generation of productive chains with companies in the region.
23. The Heads of State instructed the relevant authorities of their countries to
participate on a coordinated basis in multilateral negotiations on trade in energy-related
goods and services, bearing in mind the characteristics and conditions of energy planning
in each country.
24. The Presidents instructed the national officials responsible for IIRSA implementation
in each country, and urged the specialized regional and international organizations, to
coordinate with each other in the energy area, in the work of the IIRSA technical offices
(the respective TEGs) and of the said organizations, in order to contribute to broad and
gradual integration within a regional context, which could result in an energy agenda for
the region, aimed at studying the bases for a possible South American Energy Charter.
25. The Heads of State also highlighted the importance of science and technology and
awarded priority to their development in the region. They recalled that South America has
achieved significant technological developments in several areas of knowledge and,
consequently, decided to promote and deepen cooperation among the countries of the region,
particularly in the area of new information and communication technologies. In that
regard, they noted with satisfaction the creation by the Government of the Federative
Republic of Brazil of the South American Program to Support Cooperation Activities in
Science and Technology (PROSUL) as provided for in the "Brasilia Communiqué."
26. The Presidents also expressed their satisfaction with the significant results attained
during the First Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of MERCOSUR and the Andean Community
that took place in La Paz on July 17, 2001, with the participation of Guyana and Suriname;
and they encouraged holding another meeting of the Mechanism for Dialogue and Political
Consensus created on that occasion, to foster the coordination of positions, among the
countries involved, on issues of common interest.
27. The Presidents emphasized the importance of the CAN-MERCOSUR negotiations and
reiterated that it is imperative that they be completed this year, thereby strengthening
their bargaining power in other negotiation processes, particularly the FTAA.
28. With respect to the participation of countries with small economies in FTAA
negotiations, the Presidents agreed that this process should suitably consider those
countries' circumstances, needs, economic conditions and opportunities. In that regard,
they endorsed the need to find appropriate modalities, aimed at strengthening the capacity
of those countries to participate in the FTAA negotiation process and to implement, fully
and effectively, the results achieved in those negotiations.
29. The Heads of State directed that the Third South American Conference on Migrations to
be held in Quito next August 15 and 16, adopt an Action Plan on International Migration in
South America to provide, among other purposes, the development of coordinated regional
policies to protect the fundamental rights of South American migrants worldwide,
especially in social security matters and including reciprocal consular assistance, as
well as the bases for the adoption of coordinated regional policies to combat the illicit
trafficking of persons; and to work towards harmonization of the legislation on migration
in the countries of South America.
30. Bearing in mind the transcendence of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be
held in Johannesburg, the Presidents decided to adopt a Declaration on this subject.
31. In referring to the negative effects of imbalances in the international economic and
financial system of the region, the Presidents reiterated their support for and solidarity
with the people and the Government of the Republic of Argentina, in view of the efforts
they are making to surmount the current adverse situation, and urged the international
financial community to extend the support needed to reactivate the economy of their sister
South American nation.
32. The Presidents expressed their solidarity with the people and the Government of
Colombia in defense of democracy, which has just been strengthened by a successful
electoral process. They rejected the terrorist actions and the violations of International
Humanitarian Law by groups acting outside the law.
33. The Presidents expressed their unanimous desire for personal success and fulfillment
to Colombian President Andrés Pastrana and Bolivian President Jorge Quiroga, who will
soon turn over their positions to democratically elected successors. They also expressed
appreciation for the contributions made at the summit meetings in which the two outgoing
presidents took part.
34. The Presidents expressed their appreciation to the government and people of the
Republic of Ecuador, and particularly to President Gustavo Noboa, for the hospitality
offered to all the participants and for the excellent arrangements which ensured the
success of the Second Meeting of Presidents of South America that will set a renewed
course for regional integration.
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