President’s Speech at the 6th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)

It gives me pleasure to lead this meeting of the CELAC. I celebrate the presence of Charles Michel, President of the European Commission, of Alicia Bárcenas, of CEPAL, and of presidents, ministers, diplomatic representatives from Latin America, the Caribbean, friends, all friends. The CELAC, in these times, can become the main instrument to consolidate relations between our Latin American and Caribbean countries, to achieve the ideal of economic integration with the United States and Canada in a framework of respect for our sovereignties. That is, to build on the American continent something similar to what was the economic community that gave rise to the current European Union. It is our feeling that this ideal can become a reality if we think and agree on three basic issues. Non-intervention and self-determination of peoples. Cooperation for development and mutual help to combat inequality and discrimination. In the political arena, we can commit to respecting the internal decisions of peoples and that no government is forced to submit to another country for any reason, cause or pretext, or through the use of money, propaganda, economic and diplomatic sanctions, or the use of force. That the controversies about democracy and human rights are addressed at the request of the parties, in truly neutral instances, created by the countries of America, and that the last word is given by the specialized agencies of the United Nations. Two, in terms of economic and commercial matters, I propose that together with the United States and Canada, we build an agreement and sign a treaty to strengthen the domestic market on our continent, which is currently deficient in relation to Europe and, above all, with respect to Asia. Let us bear in mind that in America we account for only 24% of Asia's population. However, we consume 20% more than in that continent. That is, the per capita consumption in America is $23,347 per year, while in Asia it is $4,716. Although this proportion has been decreasing due to the productive stagnation in America and the fabric and commercial impulse of the Asian countries. The proposal is simple. It is about reactivating the economy in our continent soon, to produce in America what we consume. There are many advantages. Among others, we have the strength of young and creative labor. There is good technological development. We are a rich continent in natural resources, with a wide cultural diversity. The distances between our countries allow us to save money. And I reiterate that there is sufficient demand for goods in our markets. It only requires joint planning, with the participation of organizations such as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the CEPAL, the Inter-American Development Bank, the BID, and others. And to ask these institutions for the development of a plan with the higher objective of promoting the economic community. Finally, this productive integration with a social dimension must have the component of investment for the well-being of all the peoples of America, under the criterion that progress without justice is a setback. It is about going towards modernity, but forged from below and for all. Let us remember that on March 13, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced in the White House before ambassadors from Latin America and the Caribbean the plan known as the Alliance for Progress, 1961-1969. These were the times of the Cold War, and Cuba and the Dominican Republic were excluded. But even with this failure, President Kennedy recognized in his speech that in Latin America, I quote, Millions of men and women suffer daily the degradation of hunger and poverty. Millions are deprived of adequate shelter and protection against disease, and their children are deprived of the education or employment that allows them to improve their lives. And every day, the problem is more urgent. At that time, the United States invested 10 billion dollars in 10 years, which today would be 82 billion dollars, for the benefit of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean. That amount was less than what was destined for Europe in the Marshall Plan, 13.3 billion dollars from 1948 to 1951, which today would be 140.6 billion dollars. However, what was destined for Latin America and the Caribbean at that time has been the only important thing that has been done in terms of cooperation for development on our continent in more than half a century. I think that it is time to end the lethargy and propose a new and vigorous relationship between the peoples of America. It seems to me that it is time to replace the policy of blockades and mistreatment by the option of respecting each other, walking together and associating ourselves for the good of America, without violating our sovereignties. Wouldn't President Biden have the support of the United States Congress to allocate resources for the benefit of the peoples of our America and reduce inequality and violence in the region, which are the main causes of social unrest and migratory flows? Let's imagine, for example, the gesture of goodwill, which would mean giving vaccines to most of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean that have not been able to protect their peoples from COVID due to lack of economic resources. I am sure that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will be attentive to the consensus proposals that we will be able to establish in this forum to act for the good of our respectable peoples. Welcome and thank you very much.