Council on Hemispheric Affairs » Mercosur http://www.coha.org COHA is an NGO specialized in monitoring Latin American and Canadian Relations for more than 30 years... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:03:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 In Response to: “Peru Summit: Latin American Presidents To Sign Trade Accord” http://www.coha.org/in-response-to-peru-summit-latin-american-presidents-to-sign-trade-accord/ http://www.coha.org/in-response-to-peru-summit-latin-american-presidents-to-sign-trade-accord/#comments Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:58:20 +0000 admin http://www.coha.org/?p=14824 http://www.coha.org/in-response-to-peru-summit-latin-american-presidents-to-sign-trade-accord/feed/ 0 No “Common Policy,” as Europe Grapples over its Future ties with Cuba. http://www.coha.org/no-common-policy-as-europe-grapples-over-its-future-ties-with-cuba/ http://www.coha.org/no-common-policy-as-europe-grapples-over-its-future-ties-with-cuba/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:43:23 +0000 admin http://www.coha.org/?p=7940 http://www.coha.org/no-common-policy-as-europe-grapples-over-its-future-ties-with-cuba/feed/ 2 The Politicization of MERCOSUR: With a Divided Past, Is There Hope for a United Future? http://www.coha.org/the-politicization-of-mercosur-with-a-divided-past-is-there-hope-for-a-united-future/ http://www.coha.org/the-politicization-of-mercosur-with-a-divided-past-is-there-hope-for-a-united-future/#comments Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:34:28 +0000 admin http://www.coha.org/2008/07/the-politicization-of-mercosur-with-a-divided-past-is-there-hope-for-a-united-future/ http://www.coha.org/the-politicization-of-mercosur-with-a-divided-past-is-there-hope-for-a-united-future/feed/ 0 The Greater Significance of the 2008 EU-LAC Conference http://www.coha.org/the-greater-significance-of-the-2008-eu-lac-conference/ http://www.coha.org/the-greater-significance-of-the-2008-eu-lac-conference/#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:00:29 +0000 admin http://www.coha.org/2008/06/the-greater-significance-of-the-2008-eu-lac-conference/ History of the Strategic Partnership
In 1999, the first summit between member states of the EU and LAC was held in Rio de Janeiro. At Rio, forty-eight heads of state attempted to address some of the issues affecting their respective countries and to find collaborative solutions to those issues. Both regions also aspired to strengthen consensus on international issues so that they could be contentious with other international powers, especially the United States.
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This analysis was prepared by COHA Research Associate Kristin Bushby

EU Recognizes Significance of Reforms under Raúl Castro and Inefficiency of Sanctions: Will the US be as Clever?
On June 19, 2008, the European Union (EU) unanimously voted to lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba despite the traditional destructive negativity of countries like the Czech Republic and Sweden who affirm that Raúl Castro has not implemented sufficient reforms to warrant this measure. The sanctions limited the ability of high-level government officials to visit Cuba and participate in its cultural events while establishing amicable relations with Cuban dissidents. This decision, spearheaded by Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, aims to encourage further liberalization through dialogue that is “unconditional, reciprocal, non-discriminatory and results-oriented… in the context of the recent changes initiated by President Raúl Castro.” It calls upon Cuban authorities to protect human rights and release political prisoners while resuming economic aid to the island. In a year, the EU will review the island’s progress and, if this measure proves ineffective, they can reconsider their strategy to further encourage the democratization process.
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This analysis was prepared by COHA Research Associate Michelle Quiles]]> http://www.coha.org/the-greater-significance-of-the-2008-eu-lac-conference/feed/ 0 Still on the Drawing Board: the Banco del Sur a Half Year Later http://www.coha.org/still-on-the-drawing-board-the-banco-del-sur-a-half-year-later/ http://www.coha.org/still-on-the-drawing-board-the-banco-del-sur-a-half-year-later/#comments Tue, 27 May 2008 16:06:19 +0000 admin http://www.coha.org/2008/05/27/still-on-the-drawing-board-the-banco-del-sur-a-half-year-later/

COHA and the history of the Argentine human rights situation


COHA Director Larry Birns was recently mentioned in Hugo Alconada Mon's article, "Piden desclasificar los archivos sobre los desaparecidos," in La Nación. The article may be accessed by clicking on the following link: http://www.lanacion.com/ar/politica/nota.asp?nota_id=1013271
• In the wake of the third summit of heads of state for the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the newest development is the creation of a South American Defense Council. One question still in the air, however, is what happened to the Banco del Sur, the South American development bank that was so heavily hyped a half year ago? • The Banco del Sur may become an important actor throughout the continent, but for this to happen its members first need to agree on the subscribed capital upon which it will be levied. • Once the bank’s capital subscription is decided, future challenges await: How to allocate the voting shares distribution and how to achieve high quality portfolios and credit ratings. In December 2007, presidents from seven of the thirteen South American countries met in Argentina to create the Banco del Sur, a development bank originally advocated by Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez as a substitute for international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF )and the World Bank. However, as the Banco del Sur is still on the drawing board and its purpose still debated, the only relatively fixed points are the countries which have agreed to be members: the leftists Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela, and the moderate left-leaning Mercosur countries, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The question at hand is whether the newborn Banco del Sur will be able to live up to the challenges of running a successful sub-regional development bank while still making a coherent and strong ideological statement. ]]> http://www.coha.org/still-on-the-drawing-board-the-banco-del-sur-a-half-year-later/feed/ 3