1. DECLARATION OF THE HEMISPHERIC SOCIAL ALLIANCE ON THE CAN-UE NEGOTIATIONS
2. CAN-UE: LETTER OF PRESIDENT CORREA
3. STRIKE OF THE DRUMMOND WORKERS
4. VII MESOAMERICAN PEOPLES' FORUM
5. DECLARATON OF PRESIDENT EVO MORALES TO THE WTO
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1. DECLARATION OF THE HSA ON THE CANCELLATION OF THE 4TH ROUND OF CAN-UE NEGOTIATIONS
The Hemispheric Social Alliance (HSA), states on the cancellation of the 4th round of negotiations between the CAN (Community of Andean Nations) and the UE (European Union) that these negotiations clearly correspond with the logic of Free Trade Agreements and that its cancellation proves the "structural difficulties" present in this negotiation.
The HSA believes that the intolerant attitude of the European Union is what restrains the process and not the differences among the countries within the CAN. It also questions the secrecy with which the negotiations have been handled, ignoring the necessary participation of civil society. As well, it questions why the directive approved by the EU on the "right of return" (migration) is not considered an ethical obstacle to continuing the negotiations, despite the objections expressed by several nations within the CAN.
It concludes the declaration by stating that if "it does not recognize and heed the political situation of the CAN" the integration process will be weakened and the states are acting behind the backs of civil society.
Read more in Spanish:
“Ante la cancelación de la cuarta ronda de negociaciones del TLC CAN- UE” www.asc.hsc.org
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2. CAN-UE: PRESIDENT CORREA’S LETTER TO THE EU
On 10 July, in a letter directed to the European Union, the Constitutional President of the Republic of Ecuador, Rafael Correa Delgado, declared his concerns as the President Pro-Tem of the Andean Community of Nations about the framework for CAN-UE negotiations. Correa notes that the new realities of the world and the region demand new responses within the framework of cooperation.
He emphasized two key pillars for making an Agreement of Association among nations. This should be characterized as being a comprehensive and effective expression of solidarity, based on mutual relations, that effectively corresponds to the development of the peoples. He stated that the political dialogue must include "all the substantive themes of the bilateral relation", including migration.
He questioned and categorically opposed the EU's Directive on Return (immigration) which leads to the criminalization of mobility, and stated that his country is considering withdrawing from negotiations for an Agreement on Association if this directive is not reconsidered within the framework of the structural causes that lead to mass migrations.
Finally, he expressed his desire to work together to recognize the changes needed to advance development with justice and respect among the nations.

Read more in Spanish
La Carta del Presidente Correa• http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=12689&lang=fr
Acuerdo de asociación por un lado y persecución a los andinos por el otro.• http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=12720&lang=es
Correa critica a UE por los acuerdos comerciales que promueve en América Latina.:• http://www.radiomundoreal.fm/rmr/?q=es/node/25872
UE/Ecuador.-Correa advierte de que Ecuador se retirará del Acuerdo de Asociación si la UE aplica la nueva ley migratoria:• http://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-ue-ecuador-correa-advier...
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3. DRUMMOND WORKERS ON STRIKE
At 5:50 on July 16th, about three thousand coal mine workers from the Municipalities of La Loma, Cesar and Puerto Cienaga, Magdalena went on strike. The Union- Sintramienergética stated that all the legal provisions for negotiation with Drummond had been exhausted and that the company had refused its demands.
The North America multinational, Drummond, that operates one of the coal mines of Colombia through a concession agreement refuses to consider subjects such as labor stability and the procedures to apply disciplinary action, as well as programs of occupational health and safety. While Drummond earns significant dividends at this operation, the workers suffer the worst labor conditions and the nearby community suffers all the social and environmental effects without any compensation.
We are all invited to be in solidarity with the struggle which is being waged by the workers of the second largest coal mine in Colombia operated by Drummond.
Read more in Spanish:
LA CUT respalda la huelga de trabajadores de la Drummond: http://www.cut.org.co//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1361&It...
Los casos de Chiquita y Drummond frente al TLC • http://www.rel-uita.org/internacional/ddhh/chiquita-tlc.htm
Inician paro de trabajadores.. http://www.portafolio.com.co/economia/economiahoy/2008-07-17/ARTICULO-WE...
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4. VII MESOAMERICAN FORUM OF THE PEOPLES
With the motto "Mesoamerica in Resistance… No to the neocolonialism of free trade", the 7th Mesoamerican Forum of the Peoples took place from July 14 to 16th in Managua, at the National Agrarian University. About 2000 representatives of the region participated with methodologies that went from pre-forums, caravans, regional meetings, marches, speeches and plenary sessions. Diversity ruled the day.
This initiative has its origin in Mexico 2000 because of the preoccupation of social movements regarding the launching of the Plan Puebla Panama; an expansionistic project of the United States. It was created as a space to advance strategies of struggle and the developing of a common agenda in opposition to the neoliberal model being imposed on the region. As a joint and alternative proposal, this 7th Forum sought to evaluate the goals of cooperation, to position an agenda of common resistance and to fortify the processes of articulation of the social movements.
This forum marked an advance in the inclusion of diversity of gender, generation, sector and race. It also articulated its political identification as a space independent from governments and political parties. The advances in diversity were evidenced by a pre-forum with adolescents, thematic discussions which crossed sectors and the declaration of the social movement of Guatemala.
Read more in Spanish:
Declaración Política del VII Foro Mesoamericano:• http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=12751&lang=fr
El pronunciamiento del movimiento social contra Ortega: http://foromesoamericano.codigosur.net/leer.php/1455356
Movimientos sociales dicen NO al neocolonialismo del libre comercio: http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=12731&lang=es
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5. DECLARATION OF PRESIDENT EVO MORALES ON THE WTO
On July 21, within the framework of the current effort to rescue the negotiations for the world-wide liberalizing of trade, the Doha Round of the WTO, President Evo Morales, sent a letter which strongly questioned the commitments agreed in the Ministerial Agreement of 2001. In addition, he indicated what conditions were necessary to imagine negotiations that would actually promote development.
He contrasted the objectives proposed in the context of these negotiations with the reality that developing countries experience and the practices of the rich countries related to trade. He demonstrated, using data from international organizations like the FAO, the deep asymmetries between the developing countries and the rich countries. He called attention to the indiscriminate exploitation and consumerist logic promoted by businesses, which contradicts sustainable development practices.
Finally he asked that the anachronism of these negotiations be overcome, by the embracing of a commerce that contributes to an equilibrium among countries, based on the principle of autonomy and respect for developing countries as well as an authentic commitment by the rich countries to reduce protectionist measures and subsidies.
Read more in Spanish:
El texto completo de la Carta del Presidente Evo Morales a la OMC, a propósito de la Ronda de Doha:
http://movimientos.org/noalca/show_text.php3?key=12696
Paraguay y Uruguay rechazan salvaguardas especiales propuestas en OMC:
http://www.cotizalia.com/cache/2008/07/21/81_paraguay_uruguay_rechazan_s...
Potencias comerciales empiezan reunión en OMC atrincheradas en sus posiciones
http://www.cotizalia.com/cache/2008/07/21/39_potencias_comerciales_empie...