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Nicaragua, Venezuela
Block Final Declaration of the Summit of the
Americas
Nicaragua,
Venezuela Block Final Declaration of the
Summit of the Americas
The final declaration of the presidents and
heads of state attending the Summit of the
Americas in Trinidad this week is still
unfinished, thus threatening to lock again
the summit. Ever since it was held for the
first time 15 years ago in Miami, the final
declaration has been the major stumbling
block for the meeting.
Venezuela and Nicaragua, among other
countries, have questioned Articles 53 and
57 of the 66-article draft declaration the
34 presidents and heads of state are
expected to sign next April 19 in Trinidad
at the end of the Fifth Summit of the
Americas.
Such articles refer to human rights and
democracy, as well as the need to "advocate,
foster and protect" the independence and
mechanisms of the Inter American system that
are necessary to preserve human rights and
democracy, AP reported.
The governments of Caracas and Managua
wanted the final declaration to mention
human rights and democracy, but they
disagreed with the proposal made by the host
country in connection with the role of the
Organization of American States (OAS).
Further, they have failed to harmonize a
final text after months of meetings, sources
close to the negotiations said.
President Hugo Chávez has been a fierce
critic of the declarations of these summits
ever since he attended the Quebec Summit in
2001.
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