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Latin America’s push to bring Cuba back into the fold. Professor Jorge Heine The Centre for International Governance Innovation www.cigionline.org. Engaging Cuba: Policy Options for the United States, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere November 16, 2009 5 th Floor Conference Room
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Latin America’s push to bring Cuba back into the fold Professor Jorge Heine The Centre for International Governance Innovation www.cigionline.org Engaging Cuba: Policy Options for the United States, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere November 16, 2009 5th Floor Conference Room Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars 9:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Cuba as an emblematic issue for Latin America and the Caribbean • Always been so, but especially so in the course of • this decade • A post-Cold War environment • A more assertive region, with political stability and • economic prosperity • Diversified diplomatic links and international markets • Cuban situation as a relic of an era of regional • subordination
An issue which generates unanimous support • The Latin American and Caribbean Summit in • Costa de Saipe on 16-17 Dec. 08 • The invitation to Cuba to join the Rio Group • The letter signed by all heads of state and • government asking the US to end the • embargo on Cuba • The follow-up with many state visits to • Havana
Visits to Cuba in 2009 • So far this year Cuba has received the visits from: • President Evo Morales, Bolivia • President Fernando Lugo, Paraguay • President Martin Torrijos, Panama • President Rafael Correa, Ecuador • President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, • Argentina • President Michelle Bachelet, Chile • President Álvaro Colom, Guatemala • President Leonel Fernández, Dominican • Republic • President Manuel Zelaya, Honduras • President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela • President Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua • Prime Minister David Thompson, Barbados • and several other Caribbean leaders. • ** President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva, Brazil, visited in 2008 Source: “Paraguayan president, tenth Latin leader to visit Cuba this year”, MercoPress, 2 June 2009 Available at, http://en.mercopress.com/2009/06/02/paraguayan-president-tenth-latam-leader-to-visit-cuba-this-year
The OAS resolution in the San Pedro Sula meeting in June 2009 • A major breakthrough in lifting the 1962 resolution that had suspended Cuba
Mexico’s historical position on the Cuban question • Basic principles of Mexican foreign policy • Not an issue of Left or Right, but on how to • conduct foreign relations • Stance of Government of President Felipe • Calderón falls squarely in that position
Brazil’s and Chile’s strong commitment to “bringing Cuba back in” • President Lula visited Cuba twice in 2008, • and hosted Costa de Saipe Summit • President Bachelet was the first Chilean • president to visit Cuba in 37 years (Feb 09)
Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s position on Cuba • Cubans’ sense of ownership of the • Revolution • Need to respect that and not bet on stirring • up further conflicts • Start talks between Washington and Havana, • but without artificial deadlines • or conditions
President Obama’s Latin American policy and the Cuban question • Despite a crowded agenda, some early • signals of interest in the region • Lack of movement on trade • Mixed signals on Honduras • Policy toward Cuba as a litmus test