European, Latin American and Caribbean states met to promote development and reforms in favour of the world's poor, but avoided any direct condemnation of US economic and foreign policy, reports Veronica Balderas Iglesias Multilateralism -- or international cooperation -- and social cohesion were the major topics discussed during the summit of 58 European Union, Latin American and Caribbean nations on 28 May in the western Mexican city of Guadalajara. The aim of the summit was to strengthen strategic partnerships between the regions, in order to promote sustainable development and to reduce poverty, inequality and marginalisation. Concerns however, over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers and the need to grant the United Nations the lead role in the "war on terror" turned the gathering into a high-profile political debate. The bitterest wrangling was reserved for the process of drafting the summit's final "Guadalajara Declaration". While Latin American countries wanted to spell out their strong condemnation of US foreign policy, EU nations blocked their efforts. They vetoed using the word "torture" while referring to the scandal of Abu Ghraib prison, instead expressing their "abhorrence at recent evidence of mistreatment [emphasis added] of prisoners in Iraq as it contravenes international law". Cuba strongly criticised what it called the "ambiguous language" of the final statement. "If some phrases were changed or excluded, it was to avoid the summit being politicised. Nonetheless, a consensus was reached on the importance of allowing the UN to implement international law," Mexican Ambassador to Egypt Miguel Angel Orozco told Al-Ahram Weekly. Meanwhile, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque lamented how the summit and final statement hardly addressed the real and most urgent problems facing Latin America. In particular, he expressed regret that there was no specific condemnation of the Helms-Burton Law, which penalises foreign companies investing in Cuban property seized after Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. On other fronts, the leaders participating in the summit expressed their full support for the International Criminal Court in The Hague, and their commitment to carrying out a far- reaching makeover and "revitalisation" of the UN. They dedicated several paragraphs of their 140-point declaration to expressing their support for agencies charged with fighting corruption and drug trafficking, and protecting the environment. Regarding the issue of social cohesion, the Guadalajara Declaration stressed that poverty and inequality undermine human dignity, weaken the process of implementing democratic reforms and threaten peace and stability. "Hunger is the most powerful weapon of mass destruction. It kills 24,000 people everyday, including 11 children every minute," warned Brazilian President Lula de Silva, adding that poverty catalyses the spread of hatred and violence. The leaders pledged to promote economic policies that favour the underprivileged classes. Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called for the reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation, so that they become mechanisms able to address dismal living standards in developing countries. For their part, Latin American and Caribbean delegates pledged to work on finding a fair and lasting solution to the debt problem. Regarding the question of relations between the EU and South America and the Caribbean, the final statement called for an evaluation process on the best ways to achieve economic integration and to boost trade relations. Meanwhile, promises were made to fight AIDS through preventive measures, and by providing prompt medical attention. Support was also allocated to projects designed to promote sustainable regional development at the economic, social and cultural levels. Though on the whole positive, the Guadalajara summit was not without its shortcomings. Some world leaders -- such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair -- were not present. And alongside bitter disputes regarding sensitive political scandals, violent clashes took place in the street between rioters and the Mexican police, marring the end of the event. Nevertheless, high-ranking officials insist that the Guadalajara summit did not fail to achieve its main objectives. "The fact that the French president, the Spanish prime minister and the German chancellor were present at the summit shows the good will of the EU to get closer to Latin American and Caribbean nations, to address the main challenges regarding economic and trade relations, and to find a political balance in the world," Ambassador Orozco told the Weekly.
