John Brohman sent this disquieting message concerning
apparent US plans to organize NATO-style interventions in Latin America.
Jim Blaut
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Re: Stratfor's service
Date: 11-Jun-99 at 16:02
TO: James Blaut,70671,2032
From: John Brohman <[log in to unmask]>
Jim,
Below is the message that a friend sent me contained in a report out of
Guatemala City, with US plans for military intevention wrapped up in the
usual [stuff] about saving democracy, etc. I agree with you it's really
scary ...and I'm glad you brought it to everyone's attention.
John
>U.S. Shelves OAS Declaration To Defend Democracy
>
>9.04 p.m. ET (105 GMT) June 8, 1999
>GUATEMALA CITY A U.S. proposal to defend democracy throughout the Western
>Hemisphere was shelved Tuesday after Mexico and other nations in the
>Organization of American States (OAS) said it smacked of interventionism.
>The measure, which had been set to be adopted at the OAS's annual general
>assembly meeting in Guatemala, would have allowed OAS members to turn to
a >"Group of Friends'' to help prevent political crises such as a coup.
>Under the draft's language, the "Group of Friends'' could have been
called by >the OAS secretary general, any one of the 35 member states or
the permanent >council. >Countries such as Chile, Peru and Mexico
objected to that language, saying it >would interfere in domestic affairs.
Mexico's ambassador to the OAS, Claude >Heller, said democracy could not
be imposed by decree. >"We can't force solutions, means and ways when there is
no basic consensus,'' >Heller said.
>"Every action by the OAS has to be based on the principle that each country
>needs to find its own solution for its problems,'' Peru's Foreign Minister
>Fernando de Trazegnies told delegates Tuesday. >"When somebody suddenly
storms my house and comes in, I don't consider him a >friend,'' de Trazegnies
said.
>Peter Romero, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemispheric
>Affairs, told delegates the measure was aimed at consolidating democracy
by >preventing constitutional impasses and instability. >"Democratic
institutions require special care and vigilance, especially in
>times of economic and social turmoil,'' Romero told delegates.
>The U.S. mission said it will send the draft to the OAS's permanent
council for >further discussion. >"It is not uncommon in these meetings to
float an idea around to see if t here
>is consensus, but some countries have expressed concerns over the measure
so >now we have to try to work it out,'' Victor Marrero, the U.S.
ambassador to the >OAS, told Reuters.
>Established in 1951, the OAS includes every country in the Americas save
Cuba >and aims to strengthen peace and security in the region.
>
>
John Brohman, Associate Professor
Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5A 1S6
tel: 604/291-4412; fax: 604/291-5841; e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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