photo via TVN Panama
Spent the weekend glued to the TV watching national news coverage of the Cumbre de las Americas in
Panama City. The coverage was excellent, and Panama performed magnificently as host country. President Juan Carlos Varela was an exemplary statesman and host.
The much anticipated encounter between President Obama and Raul Castro of Cuba took place this afternoon around 3:20 pm. There were lots of speculations about resuming full diplomatic relations, embassies in both countries, and the reopening of trade and commerce. One of the prerequisites, however, is removal of Cuba from the USA's list of countries that support international terrorism, and no promises were made regarding this action. Much pressure from multiple factions, but no declarations on the part of the US president.
Last night, Panama hosted a state dinner in Panama Viejo. From photos published elsewhere, it seems lighting technicians transformed the site vastly beyond its true appearance. Conspicuously absent from the dinner were Raul Castro, Daniel Ortega, Evo Morales, and Nicholas Maduro. Dilma Rouseff, [Brazil] appeared briefly and left before the dinner. Barack Obama attended briefly and left after dinner.
Photo from First Lady's FB page
At the conference today, multiple leaders addressed the forum to discuss issues of primary importance for their countries. Each leader was allotted 8 minutes to make an address. Daniel Ortega, Raul Castro, Christina Kirchner, and Nicolas Maduro, far exceeded the time limits, running over 20-30 minutes in most cases. President Maduro delivered a letter from a few Panamanian citizens in El Chorillo requesting the US apologize and indemnify family members of civilian casualties that resulted from the 1989 invasion to remove Manuel Noriega from power. In a post-conference synopsis, a leftist Panamanian journalist commented that Panama "moved on" from that experience and mentioned the 25 yr old issue isn't Venezuela's to address.
To give credence to either Castro or Maduro was to believe the US responsible for all the hunger, poverty, and prostitution problems existing in both countries. I lean to the left on many social issues, but the poor taste of both men coupled with their thinly veiled attempts to distract audiences from human rights atrocities and oppression in their own countries moved me temporarily a few paces right. Daniel Ortega did a reasonably believable commentary on US expansionist practices over the last two centuries, and Evo Morales read a speech obviously prepared by someone else highlighting all the faults of the US and Canada regarding north american foreign policy toward Venezuela.
Perhaps it should have been obvious, but for me the most surprising aspect of today's discussions was the overwhelming political support given Venezuela in the face of President Obama's presidential decree that 7 individuals from that country pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the security of the United States. Nearly all participants in the summit were against the decree and against sanctions on Venezuela. No one spoke out against Venezuela nor Cuba for their oppression of civil liberties and human rights violations. Several leaders openly opposed the US decree and requested it's revocation. Among those leaders were Christina Kirchner of Argentina, Evo Morales of Bolivia, Rafael Correa of Ecuador, Raul Castro of Cuba, and the President of Trinidad and Tobago. But while the criticisms of the US treatment of Venezuela were being expressed inside the summit, Venezuelan expats in Panama City gathered on balconies of nearby apartment complexes and noisily banged pots and pans to express their opposition to the government of Venezuela. At the Hotel Riu, Cuban expats from Miami who flew to Panama to take part in a parallel Civil Society forum, were kicked, scratched and beaten by pro-Castro Cuban participants. They ended up leaving without participating in their forum.
source: La Estrella, Panama
Topics of focus and concern mentioned by nearly all national leaders included sovereignty, governance, migration, security, violence, global warming, environment, communications, connectivity and education. The Summit was labeled a success by all of the participants, with emphasis given to the need for dialogue and solidarity. Many points of view were discussed, but huge gaps in understanding and agreement remain. Although President Obama was warmly received by Panama, his reception was much cooler amongst many of the participating dignitaries. Evo Morales mentioned, while interviewed by one of the Panamanian journalists, that he hadn't spoken with President Obama, "nor did he have any interest in doing so."
Panama deserves acknowledgment for its great management of this major event.
(And I congratulate myself for comprehending a full two days of political talks by world leaders delivered solely in Spanish.)
(And I congratulate myself for comprehending a full two days of political talks by world leaders delivered solely in Spanish.)
