Americas Summit-Winners and Losers
12-11-1994
^By ANDREW SELSKY
^Associated Press Writer
MIAMI (AP) _ The Americas Summit is over, the 34 leaders headed home.
In three days of talk, what did they accomplish? There were winners and losers galore.
Here is a look at a few of them. WINNER: President Clinton
If the hemisphere-wide free trade zone becomes reality, Clinton would go down in history as the leader behind it. He was the final force behind two other trade pacts that finally won congressional approval - the North American Free Trade Agreement and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. WINNER: Miami
After being known for years as a city where crime never sleeps, Miami dazzled during the summit. Perhaps it was the thousands of police and federal security agents who kept crime at bay. With a dozen cops on every corner, it was even safe downtown, where few normally dare walk at night.
If a hemispheric free trade zone is created, Miami would be the hub, bringing more jobs and visitors. LOSER: Fidel Castro
Cuba's communist leader, more isolated than ever, was shunned from the summit attended by every other leader in the hemisphere. The message to Castro from his neighbors: Democratize Cuba or wither on the vine. WINNERS: U.S. exporters
In a free trade zone, tariffs on imported U.S. goods would be eliminated. U.S. telecommunications, electronics and construction companies are poised to take advantage of Latin America's push to modernize. WINNER AND LOSER: Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo
Inaugurated into office just a week before the summit, Zedillo had a reputation as an anemic technocrat. But by speaking out against California's Proposition 187, which denies health and education benefits to illegal aliens, he is now known among Mexicans, and leaders of other countries, as a bold man unafraid to take on the United States.
Zedillo also lost, because the summit did not officially condemn Proposition 187. WINNER: Mexico
As a gateway to the United States, Mexico would gain from a Free Trade Area of the Americas by serving as a conduit for goods. WINNER: The environment
Latin American nations agreed to phase out the use of leaded gasoline and to properly manage pesticides. The United States and the Central American nations also agreed to protect habitats in Central America and to strengthen environmental laws. A hemispheric summit on the environment will be held in Bolivia in 1996, Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez said Sunday. LOSER: The European Union
The European economic alliance now faces stiff competition. A free trade zone of the Americas and the Caribbean is projected to be the world's biggest, uniting 850 million people and creating a marketplace worth $13 trillion. As leaders from Latin America met in Miami, the EU scrambled to get on the bandwagon. An EU summit in Germany called for talks to pursue a partnership with Latin America. POTENTIAL LOSERS: Drug traffickers
The summit nations pledged to go after traffickers' profits and attack their money-laundering operations. But the initiative lacks teeth. Colombian President Ernesto Samper introduced more punishing measures, which will be considered by summit nations next year. WINNER AND LOSER: Argentina's President Carlos Menem
Menem's proposal to create a "White Helmet" corps of volunteers in the region to help in natural disasters and other emergencies and reduce social and developmental needs was embraced by the summit. But Menem failed in his bid to persuade the summit leaders to take an official position on the need for Cuba to become democratic.
^By ANDREW SELSKY
^Associated Press Writer
MIAMI (AP) _ The Americas Summit is over, the 34 leaders headed home.
In three days of talk, what did they accomplish? There were winners and losers galore.
Here is a look at a few of them. WINNER: President Clinton
If the hemisphere-wide free trade zone becomes reality, Clinton would go down in history as the leader behind it. He was the final force behind two other trade pacts that finally won congressional approval - the North American Free Trade Agreement and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. WINNER: Miami
After being known for years as a city where crime never sleeps, Miami dazzled during the summit. Perhaps it was the thousands of police and federal security agents who kept crime at bay. With a dozen cops on every corner, it was even safe downtown, where few normally dare walk at night.
If a hemispheric free trade zone is created, Miami would be the hub, bringing more jobs and visitors. LOSER: Fidel Castro
Cuba's communist leader, more isolated than ever, was shunned from the summit attended by every other leader in the hemisphere. The message to Castro from his neighbors: Democratize Cuba or wither on the vine. WINNERS: U.S. exporters
In a free trade zone, tariffs on imported U.S. goods would be eliminated. U.S. telecommunications, electronics and construction companies are poised to take advantage of Latin America's push to modernize. WINNER AND LOSER: Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo
Inaugurated into office just a week before the summit, Zedillo had a reputation as an anemic technocrat. But by speaking out against California's Proposition 187, which denies health and education benefits to illegal aliens, he is now known among Mexicans, and leaders of other countries, as a bold man unafraid to take on the United States.
Zedillo also lost, because the summit did not officially condemn Proposition 187. WINNER: Mexico
As a gateway to the United States, Mexico would gain from a Free Trade Area of the Americas by serving as a conduit for goods. WINNER: The environment
Latin American nations agreed to phase out the use of leaded gasoline and to properly manage pesticides. The United States and the Central American nations also agreed to protect habitats in Central America and to strengthen environmental laws. A hemispheric summit on the environment will be held in Bolivia in 1996, Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez said Sunday. LOSER: The European Union
The European economic alliance now faces stiff competition. A free trade zone of the Americas and the Caribbean is projected to be the world's biggest, uniting 850 million people and creating a marketplace worth $13 trillion. As leaders from Latin America met in Miami, the EU scrambled to get on the bandwagon. An EU summit in Germany called for talks to pursue a partnership with Latin America. POTENTIAL LOSERS: Drug traffickers
The summit nations pledged to go after traffickers' profits and attack their money-laundering operations. But the initiative lacks teeth. Colombian President Ernesto Samper introduced more punishing measures, which will be considered by summit nations next year. WINNER AND LOSER: Argentina's President Carlos Menem
Menem's proposal to create a "White Helmet" corps of volunteers in the region to help in natural disasters and other emergencies and reduce social and developmental needs was embraced by the summit. But Menem failed in his bid to persuade the summit leaders to take an official position on the need for Cuba to become democratic.
Comments
Post a Comment