by the El Reportero’s news services
Barack Hussein Obama
U.S. President Barack Obama achieved one aim at the Summit of the Americas held on April 17-19 in Port of Spain, Trinidad: to prevent the hijacking of the event by his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chávez.
With smiles, handshakes and his message that he had come to listen and learn, he managed to win the media battle and convey the impression that he was inaugurating a new kind of relationship with the media. Though critics have maintained that he delivered little more than gesture, in a couple of areas — Cuba and Colombia — there was some substance as well.
Questions mount about Ecuador elections
On May 7 Fernando Cordero, the president of the rump of Congress, said that there had been fraud in the recent elections. Cordero is loyal to President Rafael Correa, who officially won the April 26, elections. Cordero’s claim endorses the grumbles from former president Lucío Gutiérrez (2003-2005) who claims that the elections were riddled with fraud.
The elections were monitored, by both the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union. Both organizations pointed out shortcomings in the elections and the OAS observers’ report stopped well short of saying that the elections were fair. The OAS secretary general, José Miguel Insulza, however, hailed Correa as the winner before the observers produced their report.
Bank of the South ready to operate
BUENOS AIRES – With an initial capital of seven billion dollars, the Bank of the South is ready to start up operations in this capital, amid the severe global economic crisis, local media reported.
The final details on the constitution of the new financial body were put in place at a closed-door meeting of Economy and Finance ministers from all seven member countries.
The announcement was made amid the global financial crisis to counter growing pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is trying to become a major moneylender in the region, the newspaper Pagina 12 reported.
The publication said that Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela would contribute two billion dollars each, while Uruguay and Ecuador would provide 400 million each, and Paraguay and Bolivia would put in the remaining 200 million dollars.
The agreement to set up the Bank of the South must be ratifi ed by the presidents and parliaments of all seven countries involved.
The Bank of the South, an initiative by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, will finance development programs in key economic sectors, and will seek to reduce asymmetries, promote he equitable distribution of investments in the region and fi ght poverty and social exclusion.
Cuban eye surgeons help Nicaraguans
MANAGUA – Cuban ophthalmologists of the Operation Miracle mission in Nicaragua have completed over 50,000 eye surgeries, coordinator Doctor Mercedes Argote said. She told Prensa Latina that between the Sandino City’s Clinic and those in the cities of Bluefi elds and Puerto Cabezas, 50,113 eye surgeries were performed.
