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THREATS TO SECURITY CAN UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY

Threats to security in the Americas can help destabilize democratic governments, Organization of American States (OAS) member country representatives told a meeting of the OAS Committee on Hemispheric Security on Tuesday. Chaired by Mexico's Ambassador Miguel Ruiz-Cabañas, the meeting was called to share bilateral and sub-regional perspectives on security.

Peru's Ambassador Eduardo Ferrero Costa, said the Andean Charter for Peace and Security, signed in Lima last June, seeks to declare the Andean Community as a zone of peace. He argued that "this commitment delivers a clear political message and represents an important contribution by the countries of that sub-region to the debate on security issues within our Organization."

The Peruvian envoy cited conventional arms control, transparency and limits on expenditures on external defense among other Andean Charter commitments. He spoke as well about non-conventional threats, reiterating the regional commitment to fighting terrorism, transnational crime, illicit drugs, money laundering and illegal arms trafficking.

In his presentation, Guyana's Ambassador to the OAS, Odeen Ishmael, referred to the [Caribbean] Regional Security System, instituted in 1982. He urged more emphasis on moving the dialogue on peace and security beyond the traditional discourse of military threats, to include the challenges faced by developing countries and small island states.

Ambassador Ishmael added: "It must be emphasized that all of these threats to national security also pose serious threats to democracy in these countries. Crime undermines society by establishing a state of instability, which can lead to the destabilization of democratic governments. And the destabilizing of democratic governments poses a threat to democracy and security in this entire hemisphere.

"Perhaps one of the gravest challenges facing the CARICOM region today is that of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It poses an immense threat to social and economic development and has the potential of undermining the fabric of the entire society."

Also making reference to the Regional Security System, Antigua and Barbuda's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Lionel Hurst, noted that since it was created, it has proven very effective. He said, "Our ability to sell and purchase goods in the international marketplace remains
critical to our continued sovereignty and independence. Equally important to many of our islands' security is a stable, natural environment."

The experience of MERCOSUR, Bolivia and Chile also came up for discussion, with Brazilian Ambassador Valter Pecly Moreira pointing to the 1999 Political Declaration establishing the region as a nuclear arms free zone and establishing consultation and cooperation mechanisms for collective security and defense.

Pecly Moreira said sub-regional initiatives should not be interpreted as incompatible with a hemispheric perspective of security and defense. "To the contrary, they lend greater objectivity and transparency, and help in identifying shared values that facilitate a broader perspective."


Mauricio Herdocia, advisor to Nicaragua's Foreign Affairs Minister, and Elizabeth Villalta, legal advisor to El Salvador's Foreign Affairs Minister, spoke about the Framework Treaty on Security in Central America, being developed and expanded under the 1991 Protocol of Tegucigalpa.

Both diplomats described the Treaty as "a multi-dimensional model" that represents a departure from the predominantly militaristic view, and includes a human dimension to security. "This signals a radical change in our history, which was dominated by authoritarianism and a distorted view of national security," the Nicaraguan diplomat added.

The Committee on Hemispheric Security convened the meeting as part of preparations for the Special Conference on Hemispheric Security, to be held in Mexico City next May.

Reference: E-215/02