UNASUR pledges U$S 300 million for Haiti

[rabs]

Edited to update that Chavez canceled Quito visit at last moment.
Evo Morales also was not there, which eased tensions that there could be a diplomatic clash with Uribe. Chavez sent Foreign Minister Maduro, Evo sent Vice President Linares.

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There was a summit of UNASUR members today in Quito. Members pledged an immediate $100 million, plus will seek an additional $200 million from the IDB (Interamerican Development Bank) to help Haiti rebuild.

Uribe was there, first time he has visited Quito since the bombing attack inside Ecuadoran territory in March 2008.

Too bad for Uribe, there was a noisy demonstration against him in front of the Carondelet presidential palace so he had to enter through a back door. Have yet to see whether Uribe and Chavez exchanged any words at the meeting.

Story in English with interesting observations by UNASUR leaders:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1036547/1/.html
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Speaking of Haiti, the remains of the once upscale Caribbean Market collapsed today, trapping and maybe killing several people who were inside looking for food.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Great news. Even Alan Garcia temporarily seems to have his head/heart in the right place

on this issue.

From the article:

At the suggestion of Peruvian President Alan Garcia, the final statement stressed Unasur would back efforts to keep all humanitarian assistance in Haiti "under the leadership" of the Haitian government.

Without addressing or criticizing, as had been expected, the US military's leadership role in relief efforts, the summit stressed that international players in Haiti should conduct themselves with "absolute respect for (Haitian) national sovereignty and the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs."

Correa questioned why the relief effort in Haiti was often led by non-governmental groups, while Argentina's foreign minister said all aid should be coordinated with the United Nations.

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro pointed to the "hegemonic and abusive way the US army is dealing with Haiti."

Preval tried to defuse the issue, telling the summit there were "many countries helping Haiti in different ways and participating, above all, with some military presence."

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a leading critic of the US aid operation in Haiti, was due to address the summit but canceled at the last minute without immediate explanation.

Correa, the current Unasur chair, said the aim of the summit was to shore up Haiti's institutions so it would not be so reliant on outside powers.

"Without government and institutions, the country cannot move ahead - unless it is a colony, which we will not permit," he said.

Beautiful! So glad they are on the record with their statements, all of them accurate.

Glad to hear Uribe is starting to grasp his level of support outside his feudal kingdom.

What a shame the earthquake has striken even more people at this late date.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Peru to help rebuild schools, water systems in Haiti

Peru to help rebuild schools, water systems in Haiti
11:40, February 10, 2010


Peruvian President Alan Garcia said Tuesday his country will donate 10 million U.S. dollars for the reconstruction of schools and potable water systems in quake-hit Haiti.

If all South American countries follow suit, the amount could soon reach some 100 million dollars, Garcia said at an extraordinary summit of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) in Quito, Ecuador.

According to news reaching here, Garcia called on South American countries to contribute to the reconstruction of road infrastructure and all other fields in need of rebuilding in the small Caribbean island country.

Garcia stressed the importance of international assistance when a country suffers from natural disaster, citing the support given to his country after a strong earthquake jolted southern Peru in August 2007.

More:
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/6892620.html