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OAS Secretary General and former President Carter Discuss Regional Issues

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today participated in a public conversation with former United States President Jimmy Carter, in which both politicians presented their perspectives on key regional issues within the framework of the 16th Annual Conference of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).

The conversation addressed several issues of hemispheric interest, starting with the relationship between the United States and Cuba. Asked whether it is realistic to think that the United States and Cuba could have a different relationship, Secretary General Insulza replied “if they could change their relationship with the Soviet Union, if they could change their relationship with Hungary or Poland, for example, why can’t they change their relationship with Cuba?” Secretary Insulza also expressed his hope that the relationship between the two countries would change in a “reasonable manner” in the coming years, which would help in many areas. “I believe it’s precisely the maintenance of the embargo and keeping Cuba in the position of the persecuted party that impedes the demands for change in human rights” in the country, he said.

Secretary Insulza also spoke of the change in relations between the countries of the region, now that the vast majority of governments are democratic. “The countries of Latin America are no longer the same” as a few decades ago, said the head of the hemispheric organization, “and therefore do not want the same relationship.” “When they sit in the OAS,” he added, “they want to be dealt with as equals and not with some as objects of policy and others as subjects.”

On the subject of the mandate that emerged from the Summit of the Americas this year in Cartagena, on the issue of drug policies in the hemisphere, the Secretary General explained that the first stage, which is already in action, consists of a series of reports on drugs and health, drugs and justice, drugs and violence, among other issues. “After that begins a more in depth process,” said Insulza, “to do what the Presidents asked us for: to present different scenarios, different options, not to completely do away with previous policies, but to supplement them with different options.”

For his part, former U.S. President Carter called for social and business groups to exercise influence over the policies of their countries. “Business and trade leaders should be involved more directly and courageously to correct the mistakes of their governments.” As for the drug-related problems in the hemisphere, the former President said “we have put too much emphasis on the last 25 or 30 years only on interdiction and prevention of drug transportation and production. I think we need a better balance between providing treatment to drug users and separating that from punishment for those who use drugs.”

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

The video of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-304/12