The OECD invited Chile to become its second member in Latin America after Mexico. Chile will formally accept this invitation when an Accession Agreement is signed in the presence of Secretary-General Angel Gurría and President Michelle Bachelet on 11 January 2010 in Santiago. The invitation to Chile to become the Organisation’s 31st member comes at a time when the OECD is expanding its relations with the region. In addition to acknowledging Chile’s efforts to develop its market-based economy, it confirms the OECD’s determination to explore new frontiers to help governments address world economic challenges while championing the highest standards in public policy. Seguir leyendo »
Archive for the ‘English’ Category
Chile invited to become a member of the OECD
Putin “reflects” on Berlin Wall years (Video)
Dear Readers,
20 years ago the Berlin Wall came down. At that time the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was a KGB officer stationed in Dresden, GDR. He served there from 1985-1990. Putin is today “celebrating” the 20th anniversary of that historical event together with World figures as Lech Walesa and Angela Merkel. How ironic. However, I highly recommend reading the interview he gave yesterday for the Russian TV Station NTV, were he “reflects” on Berlin Wall years. Seguir leyendo »
The West in the 21st Century: Doomed to Marginalisation?
Dear Readers,
I recently attended the conference entitled, “The West in the 21st Century: Doomed to Marginalisation? Why and How to Strengthen the Transatlantic Partnership”, organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the European Values Association. The aim was to discuss the future of the partnership between the European Union and the United States of America. One of the main speakers was the Czech Minister of European Affairs Štefan Füle as well as many experts from Germany, France and the United States.
Here you can read and listen more about the conference. Seguir leyendo »
Latin America and the Totalitarian Temptation
Resolution proposed by Convergència Democràtica, Catalonia
Sent to carlosgonzalezshanel.com by Carles Llorens
Carles Llorens, Convergència Democràtica
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, convening in Barcelona, Catalonia on 19th and 20th November 2009:
Fredrich Hayek’s book The Road to Serfdom opens with a quotation from David Hume: “It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once”, which is particularly apt for describing what is happening in a number of Latin American countries that have embarked on “Bolivarian” agendas. Now it is not just Cuba, which continues to live under totalitarianism. All the civil rights of citizens in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua are under a permanent threat that is leading them to the loss of all their liberties. Seguir leyendo »
New Warnings about an Arms Race in South America and Nicaragua
Several Latin-American former political leaders and security experts expressed concern over the consequences of an arms race in South America and in Central America’s Nicaragua.
The area’s investment in military hardware in the last five years has almost doubled from 24 billion US dollars in 2003 to 47 billion last year according to Colombian political analyst Javier Loaiza. During a forum in Prague, Loaiza pointed out that while Colombia and Mexico invest in arms to combat domestic problems generated by drug cartels and paramilitary forces “other countries with no major internal problems” are launched in a race to acquire offensive weapons.
Cuban Resistance Day, August 5th
Cuban Resistance Day- 15th Anniversary of the August 5th, 1994 Maleconazo Freedom Uprising
To the brave people of Cuba,
On August 21, 1968, Warsaw Pact tanks rolled into my country in order to crush the Prague Spring, a time when citizens were freer than they had been in years. Violent repression did not crush our spirit of resistance, and finally at the end of 1989 we gained our freedom in a nonviolent transition to democracy known as the Velvet Revolution. I myself was proud to be a part of this process.
We know that on August 5, 1994, thousands of you and your compatriots filled the streets of Havana, speaking out courageously, demanding your freedom, respect for your rights, and condemning the many injustices committed against you by the Communist regime.
Today, 15 years later, on Cuban Resistance Day, I am proud to offer you my solidarity and my hope that your resistance will soon be successful, achieving the freedom so many of your compatriots have struggled for so long.
Respectfully yours,
Jan Ruml
