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In Our Words
Recast Labour Law to Rescue Latin America's Youth By Chris Sabatini and Eric Farnsworth 22 June 2006, Financial Times The choice is stark for democratically elected leaders in Latin America: deal head-on with the need to improve labor markets at the cost of triggering a potentially destabilizing wave of protest, or do nothing significant and watch a political time-bomb develop of disaffected, unemployed youth. Full Article Return To Top |
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Regional Leaders In Depth
 Interview with Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate Cynthia Viteri
On October 15, Ecuadorians will vote in the first round of a presidential election presently featuring over 15 candidates. To understand some of the complex issues facing the country, AS/COA speaks with Cynthia Viteri of the Social Christian Party, one of the leading candidates in the polls. Full interview - English Full interview - Spanish Original  Peruvian President-Elect Alan García on Economic GrowthIn an exclusive, wide-ranging speech opening our Lima 2006 Latin American Cities Conferences, Alan García highlights his vision for Peru and administration priorities. García explains his plans to strengthen regional relations, increase investment, ensure stability and bring greater social justice. He will assume office on July 28. President of Peru Alejandro Toledo Looks at Poverty and Democratic Governability Giving the keynote address at our Lima conference, Alejandro Toledo speaks about the need to reduce poverty with social inclusion. Taking stock of his government's achievements while looking forward, Toledo outlines the importance of domestic and foreign private investment for continued growth. Andean FTAs: Chief Peruvian Negotiator Assesses Trade Agreement with the U.S. Pablo de la Flor analyzes the future of the U.S.-Peru FTA and its implications for both countries and the region. Ratified in Peru, De la Flor notes that 60% of the population thinks the agreement will be beneficial to the country's interests and urges passage in the U.S. Congress.  Chilean Minister of Finance Andres Velasco Outlines Plans for Increasing ProsperitySpeaking before nearly 200 private sector and policy leaders at the Santiago meeting of our 2006 Latin American Cities Conferences, Andres Velasco charts a course for economic advancement. Velasco looks towards better structural balance, greater public savings and stronger institutions. Return To Top |
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Events and Analysis
Testimony on the Future of Democracy Delivered in the House of Representatives AS/COA Senior Director of Policy, Chris Sabatini, offers a comprehensive assessment on the status of democracy in the Western Hemisphere, testifying before the House International Relations Committee. He emphasizes that democratic stability is provided for when countries link up to the global system in ways that bring broad-based benefits for all citizens.  Council of the Americas Provides Testimony on Energy Security
to US SenateIn a written statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, COA Vice President, Eric Farnsworth, highlights the importance of increasing U.S. partnership in hemispheric energy matters. He concludes that competitiveness hinges on the development and utilization of energy resources, including alternative fuels.  President Toledo
and President-Elect García Address Annual Lima ConferenceOver 200 high-level private sector representatives and decision makers attended the Lima meeting of the AS/COA 2006 Latin American Cities Conferences. Peru: Investment and Development with Social Equity focused on the country's economic outlook and prospects for increasing private investment. Council Urges Passage of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement COA Vice President, Eric Farnsworth, notes the Council's support for expanded trade and investment before both the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means. His statement calls for Congressional approval of the trade agreement. Return To Top |
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Viewpoints Americas
The Future of Global Trade Liberalization: A Bleak Winter Ahead Shanker Singham, a Partner at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, sees a need for Doha negotiators and others to rethink how trade negotiations are approached, moving away from the zero sum mentality that currently dominates trade negotiations. The Asia - Latin America Technology Gap AS/COA Senior Director of Policy, Chris Sabatini, and Policy Program Officer, Jason Marczak, look at the divide between Asia and Latin America in technical innovation, a key factor for increasing competitiveness. Return To Top |
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Hemispheric Updates
 Brazil Election UpdateAs the October election approaches, AS/COA looks at issues currently dominating Brazil's presidential campaign. One of the primary topics will be the violence that is currently plaguing São Paulo. Mexico Post-Election Update While the country awaits the decision of the Federal Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Branch on the presidential election, AS/COA provides an update on the process and results from congressional and state elections.  Ecuador Election UpdateOur Andean Updates series turns to the October elections in Ecuador. With former President Lucio Gutierrez prohibited from running, the field of candidates remains wide open, with only a few registering significant support in the polls. Bolivia Country Update The AS/COA Andean series provides an overview of recent Constituent Assembly elections and the referendum on regional autonomy in Bolivia.  Latin America
- Asia Trade ReviewWe hear a lot about Asia-Latin American trade. But who is trading with whom? This update provides an overview on the status of trade agreements between some of Latin America's largest economies and their Asian partners. Brazil Energy Policy Review Brazil is less vulnerable to the rise in global oil prices thanks to advancements in ethanol production, offshore drilling and other refining techniques. AS/COA provides an update on recent developments. Return To Top |
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“I won’t take any populist measures of the kind that you celebrate at night and regret the next day”
Analysis: Peso power brings hope to poor
The idea is simple: empower poor people economically,
through credit from companies or microfinance from
lending institutions.
Candidates should calm passions - 23 July
Mexico’s post-electoral landscape has brought out the
worst in the country’s two main candidates: Felipe
Calderón of the ruling centre-right National Action
Party (PAN) and Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the
leftwing Democratic Revolution Party (PRD).
García’s choice of finance minister cheered - 21 July
The appointment of a fiscally orthodox technocrat as
Peru’s finance minister was welcomed on Friday both in
Lima and internationally.
‘Superpowers’ grab puts Kirchner in driving seat - 20
July
Buoyed by comfortable majorities in both houses of
Congress, Néstor Kirchner is assured smooth passage for
two new laws allowing the executive to alter budget
spending without congressional approval and normalising
its ability to use emergency executive decrees.
Venezuela to put pep into Mercosur summit - 19 July
Following formal accession this month, Venezuela is one
of five full members of Mercosur, along with Argentina,
Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The bloc’s area of
influence now stretches from the Caribbean in the north
to Patagonia in the south.
García faces battle in winning over Peru’s highlanders -
18 July
Unlike in 1985, when Mr García was swept into office on
a wave of adulation, he will be forced to act quickly to
show he is serious about extending the benefits of
Peru’s economic boom, particularly to the impoverished
highlands.
Two Brazilian candidates with much in common - 4 July
Although six candidates are expected to run for
president, there are two main contenders at this stage:
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the leftwing PT, president
since January 2003, and Geraldo Alckmin of the centrist
PSDB.
from AS/COA is published monthly by Americas Society and Council of the Americas, © 2006
Jason Marczak
Editor
Sofia Mancheno
Washington Editor
Alana Tummino
Luis Pinto
Ruben Olmos
Talisa Anderson
Tyson Barker
Virginia Resende
Contributors
Americas Society
and Council of the Americas
Susan Segal
President & CEO
Chris Sabatini
Senior Director of Policy
Michele Levy
Senior Director of Programs
Victor Arango
Senior Director of Communications
Greg Smith
Director, Information Technology
Council of the Americas Washington
Eric Farnsworth
Vice President
For other articles and publications of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas, visit http://www.as-coa.org/.
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This newsletter is published monthly by the Americas Society and Council of the Americas, non-partisan organizations founded to promote better understanding and dialogue in the Western Hemisphere, working in collaboration to advance their respective missions. The Americas Society is a public charity described in I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3), and Council of the Americas, a business league under I.R.C. Section 501(c)(6). The positions and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors or guest commentators and speakers and do not represent those of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas or its members or the Boards of Directors of either organization. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the Americas Society and Council of the Americas.