Experts Discussed International Relations Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean

(31 March 2011) Figures from the region's political and academic spheres discussed the situation of Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of international relations, as well as pending challenges, in a seminar held today at the ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, Chile.

The meeting on the state of international relations in Latin America and the Caribbean was organized by ECLAC in conjunction with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and was dedicated to the memory of the Chilean scholar Luciano Tomassini, who passed away in March 2010.

In his welcoming address to participants, the Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC, Antonio Prado, recalled the great legacy of Tomassini: "Honouring his memory by analysing the state of international relations in Latin America and the Caribbean is coherent with and a recognition of his major intellectual contributions, which have not only benefited ECLAC, but also mainly the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) and, of course, Chile and Latin America".

According to the Secretary-General of OAS, José Miguel Insulza: "For much of his life, Luciano was an enthusiastic promoter of Latin American integration".  These were his words in a letter that was read out at the opening of the meeting (which Mr Insulza was unable to attend in person for health reasons).

Heraldo Muñoz, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Latin America, emphasized Tomassini's contribution to the field of international relations and the study of public policy. 

His address also highlighted the region's political and social progress, as well as its ongoing challenges on the current world stage, including that of overcoming inequality and achieving political consensus and fiscal covenants to enable countries to make social advances.  He stated that "the current situation calls for renewed multilateralism".

The opening of the seminar was chaired by Ricardo Lagos, former President of Chile, who summarized the contributions of Tomassini to Latin American thought, and underlined his input to "the international relations of Latin America".

According to Mr. Lagos "We are at the beginning of a new age. Latin America must reinvent itself in order to be more secure in its relations with other regions".  He called on the region to accept the challenge of President Obama to maintain a discussion among equals, in a reference to the regional speech made by the United States President at an event co-sponsored by ECLAC, during his recent trip to three of the region's countries.

At the opening session, a recorded address was presented from Enrique Iglesias, Secretary-General of the Ibero-American Secretariat, while other speakers included Dante Caputo, Special Advisor to the OAS Secretary-General, and Osvaldo Sunkel, Chair of the Editorial Board of the CEPAL Review.

Any queries should be addressed to the ECLAC Public Information and Web Services Section.
E-mail: dpisantiago@cepal.org; Telephone: (56 2) 210 2040.