SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS: ONE YEAR OF SUCCESS
Prepared by the Summit Coordinating Office, U.S. Department of State

(December 1995)

A new era of cooperation based on shared values and common interests was inaugurated December 9-11, 1994, when leaders of the 34 democracies of the Western Hemisphere met in Miami for the historic Summit of the Americas. The Inter-American summit, convened at the invitation of President Bill Clinton, was the first in 27 years, the largest in history and the first in which all participants were democratically elected.

Working together, leaders enunciated a shared vision for development into the 21^st Century based on the four summit themes--Strengthening Democracy, Promoting Economic Prosperity, Eradicating Poverty and Discrimination, and Guaranteeing Sustainable Development. It is a testament to the convergence of values and common interests in the Hemisphere that such a broad agenda was advanced and adopted.

With 23 initiatives consisting of more than 150 individual actions, the Plan of Action produced a rigorous work schedule for 1995. The maturing relationships of the Hemisphere were not without disagreements and crises, but after one year Summit countries are steadfastly pursuing our agenda through the principles of cooperation and consensus, known as the "Spirit of Miami." This new spirit of cooperation became the defining touchstone of the summit and created the context for resolving several of the critical challenges faced by the Hemisphere in 1995, such as forging the successful financial rescue package for Mexico and halting the short border conflict between Peru and Ecuador.

The Summit accomplished its immediate goal of giving impetus and direction to governments, international organizations, and citizens in support of an ambitious, progressive agenda. A mechanism has been established that will lead to better lives for the people of the Hemisphere.

I. Strengthening Democracy

The prevalence of democracy is a singular feature in our Hemisphere; protection of democracy was cited during the Summit as "the central priority of the Americas." Implementation of the democracy initiatives has produced notable results:

• More funding for the OAS Unit for Promotion of Democracy, which runs institution-building programs through national legislative staffs and electoral commissions.
• Chief Justices of the Hemisphere met and agreed to a charter for the Organization of Supreme Courts of the Americas to promote independent judiciaries and the rule of law.
• A network of non-governmental organizations that will ultimately link NGOs through the Hemisphere, thereby increasing public participation in policymaking.
• Negotiation at the OAS of a Hemispheric Convention of Corruption, and establishment of a link between the OAS and the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions.
• Adoption by ministers in Buenos Aires of a Hemispheric strategy against money laundering, including domestic reform of banking laws and expected potential for sharing of information among countries to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.
• The establishment of an OAS Working Group on Terrorism to address issues of international and domestic concern.

II. Promoting Economic

Progress already has been realized in liberalizing markets and undertaking market integration even before the Summit. Recognizing this, leaders in Miami sought to build upon these economic endeavors, committing to construct the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTTA) by 2005. Among the year's achievement in promoting prosperity:

• The Joint Declaration in Denver by Trade Ministers in June created seven FTAA working groups on key issues; the working groups are preparing reports for the second Trade Ministerial in March 1996 in Colombia, where four more working groups will be formed. The U.S. Administration in continuing its effort to obtain the fast track authority necessary to implement trade agreements, an eventual tool in the longer term effort to create the FTAA and an immediate need for the NAFTA accession negotiations with Chile.
• The formation of a committee on Hemispheric Financial Issues to address capital markets development and liberalization, especially regulatory and securities reform and problems related to debt.
• Coordination among governments, the World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to develop new strategies in infrastructure development, including a "code of best practices" to encourage private investment.
• Preparation for the March 1996 Science and Technology Ministerial in Colombia; ministers will address such topics as hemispheric scientific research coordination and application of basic technology to the economy.
• Preparatory work by the OAS Inter-American Telecommunications Commission for a meeting in mid-1996 of senior officials to agree on telecommunications standards.

III. Eradicating Poverty and Discrimination

Heads of government in Miami recognized the need for the full participation of all people in the Hemisphere to achieve Summit goals. Follow-on results have been:

• Approval by the IDB of $1.5 billion in loans for education infrastructure, especially in the primary education area.
• The launching, by First Lady Hillary Clinton, of the hemispheric Partnership for Education Revitalization in the Americas (PERA), making education more accessible, more effective and more participatory.
• Launching by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in March, with participation by Mrs. Clinton, a program to eliminate measles through the hemisphere; PAHO which is coordinating the health initiatives, is also holding dialogues on health sector reform in the region.
• Approval at PAHO of a Pan-American Charter on Health and the Environment linking development, health and environmental issues.
• A commitment by the IDB of $ 500 million in loans specifically for microenterprise and small business supplemented by USAID funds from its $20 million global program on microenterprise.

IV. Guaranteeing Sustainable Development

The leader at the Summit also realized the importance of environmentally sound development practices and called for an increase in the technical and management capacity as well as public awareness in the environment sector. Implementation efforts have included:

• A Ministerial Energy Symposium, sponsored by the U.S. and Venezuela, which brought together energy producers, consumers, and the private sector to discuss development of hemispheric energy resources in an efficient and environmentally-friendly manner.
• The development of a Partnership for Pollution Prevention, in which governments are, for example, working to phase out leaded gasoline use in the Hemisphere.
• A round of inter-governmental and private sector meetings to begin preparation for a Summit Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia in December 1996.

Foreign Ministers are overseeing the implementation phase of the Summit. In June, minister met in Haiti to reaffirm support for the Summit and to pint out areas that needed concentrated efforts. They agreed to meet again in Panama in June 1996 to determine the site and timing of the next Summit of the Americas.

To support Foreign Ministers in their task, governments decided to form the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), which met four times in 1995 to monitor and promote al follow-up activities. The OAS established a special committee to coordinate actions assigned to that organization by the leaders. The OAS, IDB and UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) are working through the Tripartite Commission to coordinate specific assigned follow-up programs.

Implementing the comprehensive Summit agenda necessitated a decentralized implementation plan. As a result, countries and regional organizations have volunteered as "Responsible Coordinators" to advance specific Summit initiatives.

A spirit of cooperation barely imaginable only a short time ago has taken root and blossomed. While setbacks have and will continue to occur, we now have in place a mechanism to address challenges creatively, and cooperatively. Building on our substantial progress, we are moving forward toward the Hemisphere's definition of a brighter future.

1. Strengthening Democracy
2. Human Rights
3. Invigorating Society
4. Cultural values
5. Combating Corruption
6. Illegal Drugs and Related Crimes
7. Terrorism
8. Building Mutual Security
9. Free Trade in the Americas
10. Liberalizing Capital Markets
11. Hemispheric Infrastructure
12. Energy Cooperation
13. Telecommunications
14. Science and Technology
15. Tourism
16. Access to Quality Education
17. Basic Health Services
18. Women in Society
19. Microenterprise
20. White Helmets
21. Sustainable Energy Use
22. Partnership for Biodiversity
23. Partnership for Pollution Prevention.