Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
PETER VELASCO: Welcome to LiveAtState, the State Department’s interactive
program to engage with international media. I am pleased to welcome all of
our guests from Latin America and to let you know that today our invited guest is Assistant
Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roberta S. Jacobson.
Today we will talk about the foreign policy of the United States in Latin America,
including a summary of her recent trip to the region.
But first let me explain our procedure a little bit. Participants who
follow us online can submit questions at the bottom of the window titled
“Questions for the official”. We greatly appreciate your questions and will try to answer
as many questions as possible in the time we have.
If at any time during the talk you have problems sending your questions, please
send us an email at live@state.gov. If you wish to continue this dialogue with us
after this program, you can follow us on Twitter at @StateDept
and @USAenEspanol. It is my great pleasure to introduce you to
the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S. Jacobson.
Madame Assistant Secretary, thank you for being with us today. ROBERTA JACOBSON: Thank you for
having me. I am very pleased to be here with you in my first LiveAtState.
I have had the opportunity to travel extensively in the region; in particular I was recently in
Brazil, Paraguay and Chile for the inauguration of President Bachelet. Sadly
I do not have enough time to talk with you all during this time ; but if I
may, I just want to highlight some issues that are really priorities for
us in the Western Hemisphere region. In November, Secretary Kerry gave a speech
at the Organization of American States that was very important in amplifying our
issues, he emphasized three central themes: work together to promote democracy, security
and peace in the Americas; advance prosperity in the hemisphere, including, and this is very
important, the education of our young people who will drive the economies of the future
and maintain the growth that we have seen; and focus on the way we work together
to harness new sources of energy and combat climate change. Those are
really the core of our priorities and our policies; but more than anything, the
agenda is based on creating opportunities for people of all levels, and not only
for political leaders with whom we always talk. And such cooperation is
twofold: there are shared responsibilities and mutual benefits.
I want to especially highlight an initiative: in 2011, President Obama launched the
100,000 Strong in the Americas initiative, to call attention to the importance of
education for regional prosperity, and seeks to create new agreements between universities
and scholarships with the goal of doubling student mobility in both directions
by 2020. This is a very big challenge for us but also very valuable
for all of us. Just last week, I was in Belo Horizonte, in PUC
Minas, one of the largest universities in the world, opening an office of Education USA
to provide information to the students at the university on the possibilities of studying
in the United States. With these greater opportunities for student exchanges, we
encourage business linkages, strengthen bilateral relations, and prepare
young people for the global workforce of the twenty-first century. Also, another area that
is very important for all of us is the energy area; the global energy map
of the future is changing, and more and more focused on the Western Hemisphere, and that means
we have an opportunity to be self-sufficient in energy in the region,
but also that we can make real progress on energy and energy exploitation
in the region with responsibility towards the environment that we already really have.
This is only an introduction to our policy and I'm really excited to hear
your questions. Thank you very much. PETER VELASCO: Very well, let’s start
with the first question that is on the region, a question of regional policy.
Manuel Juan Somoza of La Habana in Mexico asks, “Does the U.S. place some
importance to the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, and the community of Latin American
and Caribbean States, CELAC, and are there systemic communication channels between Washington and these
institutions?” ROBERTA JACOBSON: Very good question. These
new organizations are very important in the region. If we are talking about UNASUR,
CELAC or other institutions that have had more time, such as SICA in Central America
or CARICOM in the Caribbean, these are institutions that can really help with regional
integration, and may have an important role; but we must also not forget
that there is also a universal institution in the region, which has very deep roots;
and that is the OAS. I do not believe, nor as a policy do we believe that there should be a
competition between the new organizations that truly respond to a new situation
and with organizations in the region that have a long history. We must work together in
all these areas with the values we have in common, and with those values that have proven
to be very good in the documents of the Organization of American States. So even though
we have no formal communications or formal channel with UNASUR or with CELAC, we do have
observer status in SICA, CARICOM, in others, now in the Pacific Alliance.
I think this opens the door for better communication on those issues and perhaps
at some point we will have communication with UNASUR and CELAC, but now we have communications
with many and most of the members. PETER VELASCO: Following the theme of regional issues,
Luis Prats of El País in Uruguay asks, “If the United States is
concerned about the growing presence of China in trade and infrastructure
agreements in Latin America.” ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well ... the influence
and presence of China in the region, we cannot deny that it has been a very important and
positive thing in the region. We can see that the economic growth in recent years in many
countries, especially in South America, is really based, for the most part,
on China’s need for many products that are produced in this region. The only
thing that is very important is that all of us, whether companies or governments of China or
South America or North America or Europe, play by the
same rules and that there is transparency in these exchanges and trade between countries,
and that the people, the people can see what the benefits are, what are the terms
of trade. If we are playing with international rules, and if the agreements between
countries or companies comply with work standards of labor or environment that
are the laws of the country, then there is no problem with the presence; and it would really be a positive
thing for the region. PETER VELASCO: Alex Flores Bonilla of El Heraldo,
Honduras asks, “How do you respond to the request of the Honduran President
to the United States that you be more committed to cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking
in Honduras?” ROBERTA JACOBSON: This is a question that we really
received in a very positive way. As President Obama has said several times,
we understand very well that we have a responsibility in the fight against
transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and others; we have a responsibility
and we must increase our cooperation. But if we’re talking about shared
responsibility, that means that we all have responsibilities, and I think the president
of Honduras, President Hernández, is taking responsibility to improve
the situation in Honduras and we ourselves want to do everything possible on our side
to fulfill our responsibility and in some way increase our support, our assistance
in combating this scourge. Because it is very difficult for countries, especially the countries
of Central America and the Caribbean, to fight with the resources that they have.
PETER VELASCO: Next on this topic, Geovanni Contreras of Prensa Libre, Guatemala
asks, “Hello, Madame Jacobson, what is being discussed in terms of stronger alternatives
to fight, to change the drug policy in the hemisphere? Thank you.”
ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well, that's a good question at this particular time, because
I think, and we can all see, that there is a fierce debate in many countries in the region, including in
the United States. We have a debate about what are the most effective measures to
combat the problem, if we are to change anything. We have two states in the
U.S. that have legalized marijuana; this is not the federal position,
of the federal government; but it truly reflects a debate that is strong and robust in the region,
and it should be. This it is not a situation where we can just sit still
still when criminals, transnational criminal groups are constantly changing
their methods and who want to move drugs or other contraband. So it’s
very important for us to have this debate and consider all the transparency we
can provide, consider whether there are other ways to combat it. President Obama said this
at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, almost two years ago, and we are also very
open to having a discussion about what would be the best ways to improve the
situation. PETER VELASCO: And now a little on
Venezuela. Gioconda Reynolds of Voice of America Asks, “The U.S. has expressed its support
for international mediation to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis in Venezuela;
who would be the person or organization that can be changed into a specific urgency
for the U.S.?” ROBERTA JACOBSON: A very good and very timely
question. Because now we see a situation in Venezuela where we have very polarized sides;
and in that situation it is very difficult to sit down in a dialogue, to have an frank
conversation without the emotions of, perhaps, the battle, the struggle in which many are already
involved in Venezuela. We have seen in the past few days, just recently,
a mission by UNASUR, of countries in South America. I do not know what the
recommendations, the results of this mission will be; we all hope that maybe this is
the opportunity for both sides, if we can say all the actors in Venezuela, to have
a role, a role in a dialogue to address the challenges of Venezuela at this time.
It is very important that the rules of democracy will be implemented in a way that
all Venezuelans of any point of view will have their voice, the right to express
or oppose a position, contrary to a position of any government agency in
a peaceful but free manner, and that the institutions of Venezuela are open,
fair and transparent to all Venezuelans. Now, the discussion is for solely for the Venezuelans
decide, but at this time now we need to support it, it needs assistance from an outsider.
We do not know who this person is exactly, if it is a person or group of persons or
an institution, but certainly the Venezuelan crisis now needs someone, a group that can
move the dialogue forward, because so far we have seen that discussions are taking place
in the streets and not at the table, with tranquility, peace and without the violence that we have seen; it
is a tragedy for all Venezuelans. PETER VELASCO: And Ramón Sahmkow of Agence
France Press, “Also has a question on Venezuela: President Maduro nominated an ambassador
to the United States, after Secretary Kerry spoke of possible sanctions against Venezuela
and received a harsh response from Jaua, his Venezuelan counterpart: Is Washington considering
appointing an ambassador to Caracas?” ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well, Secretary Kerry
has said from the beginning of his term that he really wants ambassadors to return
to the capitals, Caracas and Washington. We have ambassadors and have relationships
with many countries with whom we have relationships that are not totally peaceful;
we have discrepancies; we have challenges, but that does not mean it is not possible to talk.
The problem is that although we want to move that way, we have seen that the United
States and the leaders of the United States have been the subject of many insults, allegations
or conspiracy theories, etc., that are absolutely false to the point that three diplomats
were just expelled in Venezuela and during last year we have seen eight
of our diplomats in Venezuela expelled. It is very difficult to build productive
and positive relationships where we have that kind of attention, to have a
debate in public; we want to reestablish a relationship with Venezuela that is respectful
and where we can talk in a much more civil way. But first, at this time,
the discussion and debate should be in Caracas, in Venezuela, among Venezuelans. We
want to have a better relationship with Caracas; but we can launch new measures in such a
way that there will be dialogue in Venezuela, deep dialogue, real, open to all
parties at the table and they are building a more peaceful situation, greater
democracy in Venezuela. So, we can continue this discussion, but
it is very difficult right now, and a bilateral relationship is not the issue in Venezuela; the situation
within Venezuela is the main issue now.
PETER VELASCO: Another question, also on Venezuela from Gisella Lopez Lenci of El Comercio
of Lima, “What do you think of what happened at the OAS where the Venezuelan deputy Maria Corina Machado
was not given the floor?” ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well, that was unfortunate.
We are very concerned with Maria Corina Machado’s situation and many others
in the opposition; there are some that are still detained, some without charges, others
without the ability to defend themselves. We have heard a lot about the possibility of
abuse inside the detention centers. Maria Corina Machado is a member of the
National Assembly; she has every right to speak freely on the situation in Venezuela.
Many of the members of the OAS have said that we need more information on the
situation in Venezuela; that was a way to bring OAS members information
from the perspective of one very important participant, so we are very concerned
about the situation of deputy Machado and hope that this will not be the route to resolve
discrepancies, problems in Venezuela. Problems must be resolved
by discussion, with more space for everyone to express themselves, not less.
PETER VELASCO: Maximiliano Montenegro of Diario Popular in Argentina asks, “What
are the immediate objectives and strategies of the Department of State on strengthening
the fight against trafficking for *** exploitation and labor
both in Latin America as well as specifically in Argentina
ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well, this topic is very important. It is an area where we have
worked hard in recent years, including in the United States,
because we really have a problem here too and that’s a problem, as we have said
in the drug trafficking situation in the region that is transnational, not really respecting
the laws of any country. So if we do not work together
in a cooperative manner, also transnationally, we will never defeat this problem. We are trying to
support and strengthen institutions in many countries to combat this problem,
by assistance to victims of trafficking, by perhaps strengthening a country’s
laws or implementing these laws and ensuring that prosecutors have all
the necessary resources to proceed in a lawful manner against people who are
controlling the narcotrafficking. I think it really is a problem that has the strength of us
all the time; it is important that the victims do not feel that they have
no voice; we can actually publish their stories, so people cannot say
that cannot happen here, because sometimes it is very difficult to discuss the subject.
There is shame, and people do not want to talk, but it is very important to how we can
open the doors in that terrible situation. We also need to strengthen the protection
of women and children in this area and that’s a problem we’re fighting
every day here in the United States and we really have to form many more
ties between our prosecutors, our institutions and NGOs who are brave
brave in fighting the problem, how we can also strengthen them in order to serve our
community. PETER VELASCO: And another question on Argentina
from Juan Grana of InfoBae, “This week you had a meeting with the Argentine deputy
Sergio ***; he is the only presidential candidate in Argentina whom you have agreed to meet so far
why was this decided? Is there a plan to meet with other Argentinian presidential
ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well, we here at
the State Department have met with many politicians from many countries, we
have met with congressmen, mayors, governors, from many countries when they travel
to the United States. It was in this manner that I had a meeting with Sergio ***; and
to better understand with any perspective, with any official policy in a country,
to better understand the situation in his country and his perspective on the relationship, if he
eventually is a presidential candidate. I can say that in any election
in the region, we have a policy to have meetings with all the candidates,
because we do not believe and do not want to influence the outcome of any election, so
so we will treat everyone equally. But at this time he is not a candidate and we had
a meeting like I have every day with officials from other countries. .
PETER VELASCO: The next question is from Luis Prats of El País in Uruguay, he asks
Why is Uruguay among the countries that the U.S. has asked to receive
receive Guantánamo detainees?” ROBERTA JACOBSON: Very good question
As you may know, from the first day of his first term, President Obama
has said he wants to close the institution, the prison at Guantanamo; it was a very firm policy
of the government, but also very difficult. So we’ve had conversations
with many countries, many organizations around the world asking for their help to get to
the point, which I think many of us share, of the hope of closing Guantanamo.
So we’ve had conversations with many countries; we have seen that many other countries
in the world have already received prisoners, detainees from Guantánamo, and that if
we want to get to the point of closing the institution, we will need the help of other countries to
implement it, and was in that sense that we had discussions with countries in Latin America
including Uruguay. So it’s a very consistent policy in the United States to conclude
the process in the most appropriate way for each person who was imprisoned in Guantánamo
so we can close this chapter in our history
PETER VELASCO: Ariel Alberto Jara Acosta of TV Aire Coronel Oviedo in Paraguay, asks,
During your recent visit to Paraguay, were you able to talk to representatives of civil society,
what is your perception of it, and have you seen a consolidation of democratic institutions?”
ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well, really fascinating
I cannot say anything else because it was my first visit to Paraguay in 25 years, much has changed
in these years, and I am lucky when I travel, to visit with representatives of civil society
in each country, so I have an opportunity to have, to exchange ideas, to really learn
from their perspectives and I feel really honored to have the opportunity.
It was a truly impressive discussion because the participants had diverse
opinions on the situation in Paraguay and the bilateral relationship, some sharing
one perspective, others having another; but what impressed me so much was the
very strong groups, groups that are working hard with the people of Paraguay to strengthen
democracy, from the perspective of the environment, from the perspective of the legal
legal and judicial system. Humberto Ruben of Radio Ñanduti, I studied about that radio station
many years ago during the Stroessner period, had many problems, a lot
of repression during that time, so it was really interesting to listen to the challenges and
problems of Paraguay, but also the successes and achievements. I left with the impression
that the situation is improving in Paraguay, democracy is strengthening and
institutions are growing stronger, but there is still much to be done, and we need to
continue working with our partners in Paraguay and strengthening institutions
and especially again, one of the things that was shared by everyone at the table
was agreement on the importance of education, education for young people who may
never have thought of the opportunity to continue after primary or after secondary school
So that was really positive for me, not a challenge, but an area where we can
really do more and cooperate more, and it would be very important for Paraguayan
youth. PETER VELASCO: The next question is from Chile
Carolina asks, “Unlike what has occurred in Ukraine, where the
Obama administration has been heavily involved in the crisis, in the case of Venezuela it has not
gone beyond the strong statements made by Vice President Biden; is the
administration willing to consider sanctions as suggested by the Senate?”
ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well, first I would say that the situation in Ukraine and the situation
in Venezuela are different, as there are always distinctions and differences between countries.
Of course it is true that we have made our statements and expressions of concern about
the situation in Venezuela, but also, as he mentioned before during a speech
in Congress recently, Secretary Kerry has said that we are not taking
any possibility off the table in the future, that does not include military action, I want to underscore this
but we are not taking away the possibility of sanctions in the future. As I said recently
in Brazil, we strongly believe it would be better if we and other countries
do not impose sanctions against Venezuela; no country wants to implement sanctions
but we cannot say that we will not implement them, because there may come a time when
sanctions, in some way or another, might be a very important tool; and, if there is no movement
if there is no possibility of dialogue, or if there is no democratic space for the opposition
of course we would have to think about it. We are thinking about it; so we cannot rule
out any peaceful means to influence the
the situation in Venezuela; but we also believe it is very important to work with our
allies in the region on how to implement any sanction or action because
because it is much more effective if we do these things together.
PETER VELASCO: Another multi-regional question, “The new Chilean government has been
been far less enthusiastic about the Transpacific Partnership, the TPP, than the previous government;
its president has said she intends to review the terms of the negotiations, even
stop them, among the subjects of concern to countries like Chile are the issues
of intellectual property and agriculture; is the United States concerned about the possibility
of a review which may further delay this treaty?”
ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well, the first thing I can say is that we want to finish as quickly
as possible the negotiations on the TPP because we believe that this agreement may really
be something very important, very positive, very beneficial for all countries within
the agreement; we’re talking about eleven very important countries; we are also talking
about linking Latin America and Asia, countries in North America
and we are also talking about linking these countries with the Pacific. So for
us it is very important to continue negotiating on the most difficult issues
and things that were mentioned, such as intellectual property, on agriculture, that are clearly
the most difficult issues in any free trade agreement in the world; but that
does not mean we should not push to finish this negotiation. We have heard that the new
president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, has her perspective on the TPP, she wants to review
the agreement and the current situation when she entered government; and that’s natural, but
we have no fear that it may delay the negotiations; we believe the moment is
already underway and I think that the United States believes that the benefits of the agreement are as
big and obvious to much of the population that we can achieve that dream and increase
the connections between all the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific and Asia; and that will really
give our people a better prosperity for all countries, and negotiation
means that all of us really have something to offer and also receive a lot
so we’re really still optimistic
PETER VELASCO: The last question is from María José Pérez Barros, who asks, “Does
the U.S. have plans to deepen relations with the Latin American region
what would that be and what are the priorities of the United States in Latin America?
ROBERTA JACOBSON: Well, I think this region, Latin America and the Western Hemisphere,
can be viewed as a priority for the United States, although many people talk about
the perspectives of the Pacific, and Asia. Now we have crises, unfortunately, in Ukraine,
Syria, in other places, but we can still see that there is an interest, a strong understanding
of U.S. interests in the region, which really has not changed and has
not decreased. The president has visited Mexico five times more than other countries; the Vice President
was in Chile recently for the inauguration of Michelle Bachelet and has traveled
constantly to the region; Secretary Kerry was in the General Assembly
of the OAS last year and then in South America. But the visits of these senior officials
are not the only measure of the importance; we have seen
not only the flow of officials, but also of employers, teachers or of families and
students. We have ties, we have connections that are deep and which are growing
every year, because that region is fundamental to us for our economic recovery
for our strength, not only economically but also culturally and socially
We are a country that is more and more connected with this region, and we share
common values. We always hope to improve our democracies, that is a constant task for
all of us; so I would say that, although perhaps there is not a big new program, like
the Alliance for Progress, we can say that with the TPP, the debate here in the United
States on immigration, which is a very important thing in the United States and strongly
significant for Latin America, although sometimes not considered as foreign policy
. But cultural and education exchanges, and the growth of innovative entrepreneurs
start-ups, and in all parts of the region, we have a strong interest. And we will continue
this and it is my job to direct officials’ attention toward the region, but I can
say that it is not very difficult, as there is strong interest in the region and we will continue
to play a positive and pragmatic role, to create societies of equal and respectful partnership
in which we all have shared responsibilities; that’s really the basis
of our policy in the region. PETER VELASCO: Thank you very much. That is all
the time we have today. Thank you so much for your questions, and
thank you to Assistant Secretary Roberta S. Jacobson for being with us today, for participating
today. We will send a link to the audio and video of our talk today
to the participants who have registered, so if you have not yet registered, you must
register for this link; and again, if you would like to continue the dialogue with us
after this program, you can follow us on Twitter at the accounts @StateDept
and @USAenEspanol; we hope to talk with you again in the future and wish you
a good day.