Latin American moves towards self determination

The Organization of Latin American States (OAS) which includes the US and Canada, will take a back seat to the “Community of Latin American and Caribbean (ECLAC)” next weekend in Caracas.

The settlement ends decades of postures and regional integration process which is now embodied in a mechanism able to overshadow the OAS. "A forum  for only Latin American and Caribbean countries because we ourselves are able to solve our problems without anyone's tutelage,"  said the president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, in June. That was   days before the original planned ratification postponed by the illness of  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The birth of  Celac without the US  and Canada is full of symbolism.

The  aspirations of project that embodies started in the 80s  with a route that passes through the Group of  Rio and now takes an ambitious step forward. The Group of Rio was heir to the Contadora initiative that served to support peace efforts in Central America in the 80's. In its historical context the Rio Group was increasing its political capital with the gradual integration of the countries of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in the 90's and a collection built up over 22 peaks that allowed it to take a leading role in key issues for the region. It lost Panama in 1988 after the ouster of President Eric Arturo Delvalle, concocted by General Manuel Antonio Noriega, and Peru, in 1992, after Alberto Fujimori's decision to suspend constitutional guarantees. Both countries were subsequently reinstated.

Furthermore, it became the reference body on this side of the Atlantic for the realization of the Latin America and the Caribbean-European Union which convenes annually.  Celac also assumes the legacy of the Summit on Integration and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (CALC), a conference created in the framework of the Rio Group at the initiative of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva when the global financial crisis began to show its face.