Buenos Aires, Oct 26 (Prensa Latina) Argentina is putting final
details on next week's fourth Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata,
with the signing of the Final Declaration and Action Plan slated for
November 4-5.
Subsidized agriculture in rich countries, the US sponsored
Free Trade Area for the Americas, and current international financial
policies, are the main obstacles for consensus.
These have become the most controversial issues among the 34
participant countries, given Washington's refusal to compromise on
either subsidies or the FTAA.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Latin American Policy,
Leonardo Franco, called the FTAA the "hottest item" on the agenda
because its implementation this year was prevented by differences
between the US and MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.)
Franco added that national coordinators will try to reach
consensus at a meeting of the Summit Revision and Implementation Group
next Friday in Buenos Aires.
The undersecretary noted Argentina's official stand is that
economic growth is a key condition, although insufficient to generate
dignified jobs to be in line with the Summit slogan "Create jobs to
face poverty and strengthen democratic governability."
Franco recalled the failed neoliberal model implemented in
the 90s, which is challenged by President Nestor Kirchner and other
countries in the region because, in addition to private investment and
economic growth, generating new jobs demands state policies.
