Struble Testifies on Western Hemisphere Issues
<a href=usinfo.state.gov>News from the Washington File 02 April 2003 (Acting Assistant Secretary at Senate Foreign Affairs Committee) (4910)
Although the Bush administration is currently engaged with events occurring elsewhere in the world, "this does not mean we are neglecting" the issues closer to home in the Americas, says Curtis Struble, the State Department's acting assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere.
During April 2 congressional testimony in which he offered an overview of U.S. policies in Latin America and the Caribbean, Struble said the United States is deeply engaged in negotiating a hemisphere-wide free trade area, making significant contributions toward increasing regional security, and sustaining work to improve governance in the Americas.
Struble said the administration is using public diplomacy to broaden "public outreach" in Cuba, explain U.S. objectives in Colombia, conduct media campaigns in Haiti to deter immigration, and build support throughout the hemisphere for free elections.
The United States, he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is working toward a "public diplomacy strategy of broad, continuous engagement with all levels and age groups" of societies in the Americas. While the administration has increased efforts to engage those who shape public opinion, Struble said, "we also need to reach out to the average voter and the successor generation in ways that will deepen the understanding Latin Americans have of the United States on a personal level."
This means, Struble said, "more vigorous information outreach programs, creating opportunities for person-to-person interaction, and actively listening to what our neighbors are saying."
Struble said the hemisphere is at a "critical juncture" in its economic and political development. The weaker and more vulnerable economies of the region have been badly hurt by the combination of a U.S. economic slowdown, a more risk-averse attitude among international investors, and the effect on tourism and hemispheric trade resulting from the September 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States, he said.
But at the same time, Struble added, "there are encouraging signs that the framework for success has been built throughout the region." As examples, he cited economic development in Mexico from the North American Free Trade Agreement, Chile's strong economic performance, and the predominance of democracy in the hemisphere, "which has brought freedom to every nation" in the region except Cuba.
Detailing U.S. help to several trouble spots in the region, Struble said Washington has provided Colombia with almost $2 billion since July 2000 to combat the intertwined problems of drug trafficking and terrorism. These resources, he said, have strengthened Colombia's democratic institutions, protected human rights, fostered socio-economic development, and mitigated the effect of violence on civilians. In addition, Struble praised the U.S. Congress for passing the Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act, which he said created new jobs and new hope for Colombia's people.
On Cuba, Struble said President Bush has made clear that a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy characterized by strong respect for human rights and open markets in that country remains one of Washington's most critical foreign policy priorities. Struble regretted, however, that U.S. efforts to encourage democratic reform and transition in Cuba were answered by the Castro regime's recent arrests of dozens of opposition leaders and representatives of independent civil society, "in the most significant act of political repression in years."
The situation in Venezuela also continues to deteriorate, Struble said, which undermines that country's democracy and economy while threatening regional stability. The only politically viable solution for Venezuela, Struble continued, is a peaceful, constitutional, democratic electoral process agreed upon by both the government and the political opposition. He added that the dialogue led by the Secretary General of the Organization of American States "remains the best hope for Venezuelans to reach such a solution."
Struble said democracy also remains at risk in Haiti. The Caribbean Community (Caricom), he said, has worked closely with the United States to restore a climate of security in Haiti, which will lead to a return to full democracy through fair and free elections.
The Bush administration is optimistic about the region, Struble said, "because our problems are not intractable. We can overcome existing challenges together and bring a free, secure, and bright future to all the peoples of the hemisphere."
The following is the text of Struble's prepared remarks:
.......The situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate, undermining Venezuela's democracy and economy while threatening regional stability. We must help Venezuela find a solution to the current impasse to avoid further harm. The only politically viable solution is a peaceful, constitutional, democratic electoral process agreed upon by both the government and the opposition. The dialogue led by the OAS Secretary General remains the best hope for Venezuelans to reach such a solution. The proposals tabled January 21 by former President Carter -- either a constitutional amendment to enable early elections or an August recall referendum -- present viable options to break the impasse..........
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