AP Photo/Jaime Puebla
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder speaks.
Posted on 05/27/2004 10:08:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) - Condemnation of Iraqi prisoner abuse and the U.S. decision to declare war without U.N. backing dominated discussions Thursday leading up to a summit of European and Latin American leaders.
Working in advance of Friday's summit between the regions' presidents, the foreign ministers from more than 55 countries also struggled to define the substance and timing of regional trade agreements.
As the discussions moved forward inside, dozens of anti-free trade protesters scuffled with police outside. No injuries were reported.
The pre-summit talks come as efforts to establish a broad Free Trade Area of the Americas stretching from Canada to Argentina have flagged, along with the stalled global trade talks.
Mexican Foreign Minister Ernesto Derbez said Latin American nations wanted the draft declaration to include condemnation of the Helms-Burton law, which discourages foreign investment in Cuba on properties confiscated from Americans. But he refused to provide details.
The biggest debate appeared to be over condemnation of U.S. actions in Iraq. Derbez said Latin America wanted the reference to be specific, while the European Union sought more general wording.
Bart Jochems, a spokesman for the Dutch foreign ministry, said Cuba was insisting there be a specific reference to the United States in the final declaration.
"Cubans are trying to push anything through here," he said. "And when we disagree, they complain about us (the Europeans). They're trying to hijack this thing."
Derbez said the draft will "energetically condemn all forms of abuse, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including against prisoners of war, wherever they occur."
"We express our horror at the recent evidence of prisoner abuse in the Iraqi jails. These abuses go against international law, including the Geneva Convention," he said.
Derbez did not say whether the draft declaration contained a specific reference to the United States, but other delegates indicated it would not.
Photos of U.S. soldiers sexually abusing and humiliating detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq have sparked condemnation of the U.S.-led military effort in Iraq.
"Democratic heads of government will inevitably condemn the sort of behavior that we have seen," EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten told a news conference. "Clearly that expression of sentiment is mirrored in the United States as well."
The summit came as four key nations proposed major changes to a U.S.-British draft resolution on Iraq, which would give the country's new interim government more power, especially in its dealings with the U.S.-led multinational force.
A three-page proposal by China - which diplomats said was supported by Russia, France and Germany - would give the interim government control over the Iraqi army and police and require the multinational force to consult on military actions except for self-defense.
At a stopover Thursday in Mexico City on the way to the Guadalajara summit, German Chancellor Gerard Schroeder said "important points" of the resolution must be modified. He said Germany wants a "real handover of sovereignty" in Iraq.
French President Jaques Chirac, visiting Guatemala on his way to the summit, said the U.S.-British resolution needed to be improved, adding that Iraq should have sovereignty over its armed forces and natural resources starting June 30.
Summit host Mexican President Vicente Fox and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero underscored the tone of the debate after a meeting Thursday in Mexico City, with Zapatero praising Mexico's "bravery" in refusing to back the Iraq war and lauding Mexico's calls for multilateral foreign policy actions.
Since he overwhelmingly defeated former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar - a staunch U.S. ally and war supporter - in March, Zapatero has stressed his administration's desire to focus its attention on Latin America.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder speaks.
If he is so upset with prison conditions in AG, wonder what he is doing in Mexico, Maybe it is time to shut to borders down and close and send the scum home.
Looks like more Australian wine.
The EU is just upset that we locked up their best customer.
What a disgusting hate-America fest! All they needed was Michael Moore.
'Democratic heads of government will inevitably condemn the sort of behavior that we have seen...'
Included among these esteemed regimes condemning the United States is China, Cuba and Russia. Is any comment necessary?
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