C. America to open partnership talks with EU in 2007

[arcos]

C. America to open partnership talks with EU in 2007

The Central American countries agreed here on Saturday to set up a rotating mechanism in a bid to open partnership negotiations with the European Union (EU) in 2007.

<snip>

SICA and the EU decided in May 2006 to launch negotiations as of early 2007 to reach a bilateral partnership deal, which consists of free trade agreement, political dialogue mechanism and cooperation mechanism.

At a press conference after the summit, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya Rosales said the past 20 years of Central America's experience showed that protectionism in trade and economic blockade would exacerbate poverty, foment social instability and brew governmental corruption.

All Central American countries have embarked on the course of opening up economy and regional integration in efforts to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, he added.

<snip>

http://english.people.com.cn/200612/18/eng20061218_333426.html

[Megahurtz]

1. More Globalism.

:eyes: Oh Joy.

[Judi Lynn]

Sorry, duplicate post. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

2. This should be interesting seeing these countries finally search for their

common bonds, and form their own unity to protect them from more genocide and bullying from our right-wing administrations who have brought far more death and destruction than many Americans seem to realize.

Too bad they won't take time to keep their eyes/ears/minds open and awake, and deny themselves some mindless entertainment time long enough to do a little reading. Ignorance in the general population has protected these clowns from having to answer for their actions. People have simply been stumbling around in the dark, completely unaware.

From the article:

At a press conference after the summit, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya Rosales said the past 20 years of Central America's experience showed that protectionism in trade and economic blockade would exacerbate poverty, foment social instability and brew governmental corruption.

All Central American countries have embarked on the course of opening up economy and regional integration in efforts to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, he added.
(snip0

SICA, established in 1993, groups Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, and it is headquartered in El Salvador's capital San Salvador.
(snip)

More power to them.




Burying remains of a massacre in the 1980's in Guatemala. One of many. Happened under the watch of Efraín Ríos Montt, beloved puppet of Ronald Reagan, friend to Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, etc.

The 14 months of Ríos Montt's rule become the bloodiest in Guatemala's history since the invasion of the country by the Spanish some 400 years earlier. Mayans suspected of sympathising with the guerillas suffer mass killings and atrocities, including the rape of women and girls, and the widespread use of torture. Over 400 Mayan villages are razed. Crops and livestock are destroyed. The insurgency is contained but with a tragic human cost.

As the terror reigns, Ríos Montt broadcasts weekly sermons on morality. His regime and policies are supported by the US Government and US-based, right-wing religious groups. US President Ronald Reagan is reported as saying that Ríos Montt is "a man of great personal integrity" who is "getting a bum rap on human rights".
(snip)

http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/montt.html

[arcos]

5. Actually, this will all help big corporations and harm the poor...

The Central American integration process is a sham, its institutions are used by corrupt politicians all over the region to get immunity and it is all used as an excuse to push free trade. In fact, the European Union demanded CAFTA be approved before discussing this deal with them, and one of the requirements was for the 5 countries to have just one spokesperson.

[Vidar]

3. Glad to see the real progressives in the world getting together.

[arcos]

4. Sadly, this is not about progressives...

It is actually big corporations who are really pushing for this. In fact, one of the requirements for this EU-Central America deal was the previous approval of CAFTA.

[Vidar]

6. At least European corporations are relatively

regulated & accountable, unlike their US counterparts.

[Judi Lynn]

7. More Central American news: Citigroup Tightens Grip on Central America

Citigroup Tightens Grip on Central America

December 13, 2006

Citigroup is attempting to strengthen its hold in Central America by purchasing one of the leading financial groups in the region.

The company announced Wednesday its deal to purchase the subsidiaries of Grupo Cuscatlan from Corporacion UBC Internacional for $1.51 billion in cash and stock. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is anticipated to close in early 2007.

Citigroup will acquire Grupo Cuscatlan's banking and financial intermediaries, including pension and insurance operations in El Salvador. The group also offers services in Honduras, Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica. It's the second Central America purchase Citibank has made in a six-week span. On Oct. 27, the company acquired Grupo Financiero Uno, the largest issuer of credit cards in the region, but terms of the deal were not disclosed. GFU claimed nearly $2.1 billion in assets.
(snip)

In its largest foray south of the border, Citigroup bought Mexico's Grupo Financiero Banamex in 2001. Two years earlier it bought Financiero Atlas, the No. 2 consumer finance company in Chile, and the year after that it raises its stake Argentinean retirement-services group Grupo Siembra to 100 percent and in Mexican pension-fund manager Afore Garante to 91 percent.
(snip/...)

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=51419&cat=Today's+Most+Popular+Stories&more=/news/newspopular.asp