In Our Words

The Company We Keep
By Eric Farnsworth
November 2007, Poder

It can’t be a good sign—for democracy, development, or hemispheric relations—that several Latin American leaders are keeping close company with Iran. But Iran’s foray into the Americas can also be viewed as an opportunity.
Full Article

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Regional Leaders In Depth
 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper Examines Canadian Re-Engagement in the Hemisphere
In an exclusive interview appearing in the Fall issue of Americas Quarterly, Prime Minister Harper outlines a new Canadian strategy that focuses on prosperity, democratic governance and hemispheric security. “There is no better way to boost living standards than with free trade.”
Full Interview
Americas Quarterly Website

Exclusive Interview: Bolivian Minister of Hydrocarbons Carlos Villegas
In a conversation at our New York office, Minister Villegas emphasizes that companies have “legal security” in Bolivia. He also notes that energy is currently not part of any negotiations with Chile.
Full Interview – English
Full Interview – Original Spanish

U.S.-Colombia Relations at “Crucial Crossroads”
Washington’s passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement is essential to supporting Colombia’s progress in boosting security and prosperity, said U.S. Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns at the AS/COA.
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Events and Analysis
 

Brazilian Governors Emphasize Investment in Education and Infrastructure
Governors from the states of Rio Grande de Norte, Paraiba, and Parana underscored that both the federal and state governments must invest in infrastructure, social development, and education to boost Brazil’s international profile.
Full Summary

Top U.S. Military Commander for Latin America Assesses Unconventional Security Threats
Admiral Jim Stavridis, Commander of U.S. Southern Command, writes that the solution to challenges ranging from narcotics and gang violence to terrorism is greater hemisphere-wide cooperation. He discussed his Fall 2007 Americas Quarterly article, "We're All in this Together," at the launch of the issue. 
Full Article
Remarks - October 22 AQ Launch
Americas Quarterly Website

Chile: The Next IT Destination?
Chile is a competitive alternative to India for information technology services, according to speakers at a recent program co-hosted with the Chilean Economic Development Agency.
Full Summary

Venezuela Today: A Speech by the Ambassador to the U.S.
Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez Herrera, in a wide-ranging speech at the AS/COA, shared his views on Venezuela’s social reforms and economy along with its international priorities.
Full Video

Viewpoints Americas
 

Protecting Latin American Investments
Jonathan Hamilton, Partner at White & Case LLP, analyzes concerns over the demise of arbitration and the fairness of investment treaties in Latin America. The reality is quite nuanced.
Full Article

Sustainability: Brazilian Agriculture’s New Frontier
Andre Nassar, Director-General of the Brazilian Institute for International Trade Negotiations, links agricultural production to environmental sustainability, and calls for new policies to guarantee food supplies and bioenergy.
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Hemispheric Updates
 

Colombia Election Update
On October 28, over 15 million Colombians cast ballots to elect 32 governors, 1,098 mayors and local council members. The newly elected Bogota mayor, Samuel Moreno, defeated his challenger by over 15 percentage points.
Full Update

Argentina Country Update
After winning nearly 45 percent of the vote in the first round of elections, President-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will assume office on December 10. Continuing economic growth and revamping national statistics calculations will be top concerns.
Full Update

U.S. Immigration Update: New State Laws
Without comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, many U.S. state legislatures are now passing more immigration-related bills. In the first half of 2007, over 180 such bills became law in 43 states.
Full Update

U.S. Congressional Update
On November 8, after months of negotiations and debate, the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 285 to 132. The bill is expected to receive Senate consideration shortly.
Full Update

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