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The
Summit of the Americas
Free
Trade of the Americas in 2005
The
Summit of the Americas ended on the 13th January
2004. An accord was reached to launch the Free Trade zone
(NAFTA) on 25th January, a market of about 800
million inhabitants.
Heads
of States and governments met at Monterrey, Mexico were also
faced with more questions about the fight against poverty
and the promotion of social development, speed up economic
growth and fine tune the governance of our democracies,
according to a declaration by Nuevo Leon, in the state near
Monterrey. The leaders also declared their determination to
confront the new challenges of security, namely terrorism,
organized delinquency and the illicit trafficking of
ammunition. The White House made other announcements
concerning contract offers for the reconstruction of Iraq,
underlining that it will be opened in a second phase to
Canada, country that opposed the war.
While
at the Monterrey Summit, the American President took the
opportunity, to ask his colleagues to work at a rapid and
pacific transition in Cuba, a country that has been excluded
from the Summit of the Americas. And to reinforce democracy
in Venezuela, Bolivia and Haiti, where the President has
announced elections within six months.
Concerning Venezuela, President Bush has offered
support to those who fight for democracy, alluding in
opposition to President Hugo Chavez, who replicated by
praising the Fidel Castro regime. Mexican President Vicente
Fox, only one to have openly supported the claims concerning
NAFTA and the transparency clause, was also the only one
invited by the President to Crawford Ranch in Texas.
During
the Summit, Brazil, in spite of an apparent cold shoulder
towards Washington, critically attacked Venezuela on
American unilateralism. Bolivian President Carlos Mesa
exposed the urgency of his country to obtain access to the
sea, which partially motivated a popular rebellion, having
removed his predecessor from power in mid-October, with US
support. The US will organize a meeting with Mexico in
Washington, concerning the matter.
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