Summit ends in disaster
The Fifth Summit of the Americas has turned out to be a diplomatic disaster for Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
He was the meeting’s chairman and suffered the embarrassment of being the only leader to sign the Declaration of Port of Spain – a document that was not endorsed by several Latin American countries, primarily, because the Cuban issue – the meeting’s major sticking point was unresolved.
All that trouble and expense to host a major hemispheric meeting and then for it to end in such a sorry way.
Some observers believe that this outcome exposed Manning’s obvious lack of diplomatic as well as political skills since there should have been weeks if not months of upfront negotiations with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his ALBA colleagues and other leaders on an acceptable document rather than leave the drafting of the 97-page Declaration of Port of Spain solely to technocrats.
While he made a last minute attempt to meet several Latin leaders when he sensed trouble, Chavez had no time to see him in Caracas.
Obviously disappointed, the Prime Minister, nevertheless, put on a brave face, at the end of the Summit, stating that he was “‘extremely pleased at the outcome” and that the meeting was a signal example of cooperation and collaboration.
He said because it was a negotiated document, “no country would get whatever it wishes in totality”.
“Negotiated documents of necessity, always fall short of expectation in varying degrees”.
He said the document got the approbation of some leaders.
“What we agreed to do today is to adopt the document. In adopting it, we are recognizing that there was not unanimity even though there was indeed consensus on this very important matter.”
Ambassador Luis Alberto Rodriguez, who Manning praised for organizing a successful Summit, said that the Prime Minister signed on behalf of the leaders.
However, the ALBA meeting which was chaired by Chavez in Cumana, Venezuela last week called for the lifting of the suspension of Cuba’s membership to the OAS as well as the removal of the trade embargo to be be determined at the Summit.
Bolivian President Evo Morales was also unhappy that the question of biofuels was not addressed.
As it turned out, U.S. President Barack Obama was the star of the show, managing to end a decade of hostility with Venezuela and the resumption of diplomatic relations between both countries.
Obama, who dazzled with his charm and easy manner, also underlined a new approach by the United States to hemispheric affairs in that his country would be an equal partner with all 34 states.
He also promised a fund to assist businesses, the strengthening of the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and US$30 million to fight the illegal drug trade in the Caribbean.