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The America summits (more rarely also summits of Americas than word by word translation of the original names (English Summit OF the of America, splinter Cumbre de , haven read. the ) are irregularly taking place meeting of the state and heads of the government of the Caribbean, north, central and South American states together, in order current problems, to discuss whose solutions as well as visions for a common development of the region. Most important the subject of the summit process is the education of an totalAmerican foreign trade zone (FTAA).

The summit process in the meantime accompanied of common political principles and institutional mechanisms. To the political principles it belongs that in the discussions only democratic states with free market managing may participate - Cuba remains thus until further notice impossible.

Goals

The 34 states participating in the summits exhibit economically, culturally and legally seen large differences. To that extent it does not surprise also that it comes in the context of the summits to extremely heterogeneous goals.

Two groups can completely rough probably be differentiated by participants in the summits:

  • the "“north"”: the USA, Canada (possibly also Mexico) as industrialized and comparatively wealthy countries,
  • the "“south"”: the remaining Latin American and Caribbean states.

Canada and v. A. the USA expect from the process of integration v. A. a free entrance to the large Latin American markets (Brazil, Argentina etc.). They see these threatened in consequence of internal South American efforts (Mercosur). Further important goals of the "“north"” are

  • more influence in the fight against drugs,
  • more influence in the fight against criminality,
  • Safety device of democracy and free-market economy in Latin America (with it also further isolation of Cuba),
  • Prevention of further large immigration stream from south to north.

Depending upon government still environmental protection and human right goals are added.

The goals of a large part of the Latin American states oppose that:

  • financial support,
  • free entrance to the markets of North America (in particular for raw materials and agrarian goods),
  • stronger investments of North American enterprises in the southern countries,
  • Support in the fight against underdevelopment and their consequences (illiteratism, criminality, environmental pollution, corruption, drugs"…).

Due to this goal heterogeneity it does not surprise that the objectives are very broad still in the context of the summits. This brakes naturally the degree of the Zielerreichung, might however in the foreseeable future the only possibility for multilateral co-operation on the American Doppelkoninent remain.

Institutional framework

General information

From the first summit of all American states 1994 in the meantime the "“summit process in such a way specified"” developed, thus a process of integration. It is spoken however further of the "“summit"”, since still a clear institutional framework is missing to the discussions between the 34 states: Thus there are none the European Union comparable organization, which advances the process of integration.

Only firmly institutionalized framework are so far

  • with the OAS accommodated secretariat of the summit process,
  • the Steering Committee,
  • the Executive Council.

Most important anchor of the summit process are however still the summits themselves; their close time horizon is made possible it, the progress. The model European Union shows that important decisions can fall often briefly forwards or even only during the government meetings.

(Further in addition see below)

The OAS and the summit process

The preparation of the first summit in Miami took place still completely without influence of the OAS. On the summit kept the OAS however to tasks of switching assigned, where the state and head of the government could not agree.

At the preparation of the second summit the OAS was already actively involved. It supported the summit purely technically and within almost all discussion ranges as mediating instance was consulted. The OAS organized for this a set of discussion meetings in different specialist areas. The summit finally appointed the OAS as the institutional memory of the summit process.

A similar role played the organization also with the third summit. There the OAS was assigned finally also institutionally the task of a secretariat of the summit process. This again created secretariat fulfills the following tasks:

  • Co-ordination and execution of the tasks of switching of the OAS,
  • Support of ministerialer and sparkling wine-oral meetings,
  • Support of SIRG, Executive Council and Steering Committee,
  • Preparation of the next in each case summit.

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