pdf: 6.426kb - University of South Africa

trade area in South America, in accordance with the
principle of `open regionalism'. In addition it was
agreed to intensify the co-ordination of the South
American countries' negotiating positions on the
proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
Also, ministers are to co-ordinate proposals for
establishing a South American consultative forum
which would identify joint actions in the areas of trade
and investment, to deepen integration in the region. In
parallel with the summit there was a meeting of
entrepreneurs from the various countries.
An `Action Plan for Integrating Regional Infrastructure
in South America' was attached to the final
communique and it was agreed that the IDB and other
financial institutions would seek to implement these
proposals. Bilateral and sub-regional infrastructure
projects are to be identified and are to involve the
private sector and multilateral financial institutions. A
ministerial meeting was to be held in Uruguay late in
2000 on the expansion and modernization of infrastructure
in South America.
The Brazilian government agreed to establish a
South American fund to encourage scientific and
technical co-operation in the sub-continent.
Not least of the issues under discussion was that of
drugs and organized crime. Here, closer co-operation
in intelligence, policing, control of illegal arms,
precursor chemicals and money laundering was
pledged.
Plan Colombia
However there was one important topic of discussion
which was not explicitly on the agenda ± Plan
Colombia.
Nearly half of Colombia's territory is dominated by
leftist guerrillas, narcotraffickers and right-wing paramilitaries.
The Colombian government requested
financial and military assistance from the US, which
agreed to aid of US$ 1,3 billion, to be used against
drug production and trafficking. Three special antidrugs
battalions are being formed in the Colombian
Army, with US training, equipment and finance,
which will be deployed in the main coca producing
areas of the country to assist in the destruction of coca
plantations and cocaine producing laboratories. These
regions are also those most dominated by the
guerrillas. This has given rise to fears throughout the
region that `Plan Colombia' will escalate the conflict
in that country and have serious spill-over effects for
its neighbours, namely Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela,
Brazil and, in next door Central America, Panama.
Many in these countries ± and some in their governments,
notably Venezuela, view this American aid as
amounting to a `vietnamization' of the region. Clearly
the situation in Colombia became the most explosive
item under discussion. The situation has forced Brazil,
which shares a 1 000 km border with Colombia, to
dramatically increase its border defence and security
measures in the Amazon region (Veja 2000:43).
Although, at the end of the summit, the Presidents
signed a `Declaration of Support for the Peace Process
in Colombia', affirming that the summit had enhanced
the spirit of co-operation, and that a more effective
integration of the region would render a positive
contribution to the advancement of the peace process
in Colombia, they did not endorse the military aspects
of Plan Colombia.
Brazil's role
There is no doubt that Brazil (as represented by its
President and senior officials of the Foreign Ministry)
actively seeks to curb any designs of the US to extend
its influence throughout the Americas by means of the
FTAA, which is planned to be operational by 2005. At
the same time, Brazil indefatigably argues against
protectionist measures by developed countries which
discriminate against developing nations:
South American Presidents in BrasõÂlia: first time in history
Photo: courtesy Veja, 6 September 2000, pp. 42±43
64 ISSN 0256±6060±Unisa Lat. Am. Rep. 16(2) 2000