Lima – The Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff said Brazil wants to contribute to the reconstruction of Arab Spring countries. She made the statement this Tuesday (2nd) at the opening of the 3rd Summit of South American-Arab Countries (Aspa), in Lima, Peru, attended by 11 heads of state and government from the two regions. “We want to contribute to the reconstruction of those countries and to their economic and social development, but we are aware that they depend on themselves as well,” said Rousseff.
Of all Arab countries which staged revolutions last year, the Tunisian president, Moncef Marzouki, is the only one attending the Aspa. Rousseff asserted that some situations in the Arab world are cause for great concern. “Widespread violence in Syria is a source of deep grief to Brazil, which is home to millions of Arab descendants,” she said. “We are aware that the cycle of violence is mostly a responsibility of the Damascus government and victimizes women, children and young people. However, we are also aware of the responsibility of the armed opposition, with its growing logistical military support from foreign countries,” she added.
She declared that the solution to the Syrian case is dialogue. Regarding the process of political change in the region as a whole, Rousseff stressed that South America has experienced a similar moment of transition into democracy and social inclusion in the past. “The political changes deserve our attention. The Arab world is undergoing deep shifts, popular protests which express universal yearnings, such as political participation, economic development and social justice,” she said.
The president also added that Arabs and South Americans must ensure that international economic turbulence will not pose an obstacle to development. According to her, the expansionistic monetary policy of developed countries, coupled with excessive austerity, is causing the crisis to be exported to the rest of the world. “It does not solve the serious issues of developed countries, such as rampant unemployment and lack of hope,” she said. Rousseff stated that these measures, which are really protectionism in disguise, facilitate the access of developed nations to emerging markets, but hamper the exports of the latter.
Rousseff spoke in favour of cooperation between the two regions as a means to ensure the food and energy security of Arabs and South Americans, but said South America cannot resign itself to being a commodities exporter. “In an increasingly interdependent world, our political sovereignty is more and more attached to our ability to educate, produce science, and innovate, developing our productive and services systems,” said the president.
The Brazilian leader cited trade figures. According to her, since the inception of Aspa, bilateral trade between the two regions has seen a more-than-twofold increase. It went from US$ 13.6 billion in 2005 to US$ 27.5 billion last year, the crisis notwithstanding. She said the business meeting on the sidelines of the Aspa, which started yesterday and ends today, also in Lima, will lead to new opportunities. According to the president, there is room for boosting trade and investment. “We need to take advantage of the complementary character of our economies,” said Rousseff.
The president also discussed other political issues, condemning Islamophobia as well as the attacks on the German and American diplomatic representations. She also spoke for the recognition of Palestine as a state by the United Nations, and claimed that this is the only way to peace in the region.
The Lebanese president, Michel Sleiman, who attended the opening of Aspa, also condemned the attacks on prophet Mohammed. The Arab League secretary general Nabil El Araby discussed the Palestinian issue and said Israel proceeds with its occupation policy in the region, unheeding international calls. The Peruvian president, Ollanta Humala, called for a free, sovereign Palestine.
Secretariat general
The president of Lebanon called for the establishing of an Aspa secretariat general, and offered his country to host it. Sleiman also suggested that an investment bank common to the two regions should be created, which would be open for South American and Arab banks to fund cooperation projects. He said cooperation can lead to a better life for South American and Arab peoples. “The world is looking at us and we will be key political players, provided that we can work together,” said the Lebanese.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
