Margie Zapata, Maria Nieto, Mary Herman, Brent Winslow, Victor Silva, Rodrigo

UNASUR HISTORY  Union of South American Nations  International organization created in newest regional integration project  Combination of MERCOSUR and Andean Community of Nations  Motive is regional integration in energy, education, health, environment, infrastructure, security and democracy

UNASUR MEMBERS  Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela  Panama and Mexico are observers  Official language: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch

UNASUR  In its short history UNASUR has attained a good amount of legitimacy  It helped with: Colombia and Venezuela diplomatic crisis Reducing crime Limiting defense expenditures Integrating energy and financial systems Handling constitutional crisis in Ecuador and Paraguay

Composed of four organs: 1) The Council of Heads of State and Government 2) The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs 3) The Council of Delegates 4) The General Secretariat

The Council of Heads of State and Government  Supreme organ of UNASUR  designed to establish the political links, action plans, and programs needed for South American integration  Annual meeting Others may be requested to the president pro-tempore

The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs  composed of foreign ministers from UNASUR member countries  responsible for implementing decisions made by the Council of Heads of State  coordinate positions on central themes of South American integration  Biannual meetings

The Council of Delegates  implements and adopts the resolutions reached by the other two councils  responsible for promoting public dialogue to help maximize citizen participation in the process of South American integration.  Meets every two months

The General Secretariat  executes the mandates submitted by the other organs  Assist the Council of Heads of State and Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Delegates and the Pro Tempore Presidency, in the performance of their duties.  The Secretary General shall be appointed by the Council of Heads of State and Government at the proposal of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, for a period of two years, renewable once.

Sector Councils

 Council on Citizen Security, Justice, Coordination of Action against Transnational Organized Crime  Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation  Council of Culture  Council of Education  Electoral Council of UNASUR  Council on Economy and Finance.

Sector Councils  Council for the Global Drug Problem  Council of Infrastructure and Planning  Council of Social Development  Council of Health  Council of Defense  Council of Energy

Policy  “…regional integration in energy, education, health, environment, infrastructure, security and democracy.”  “Their efforts are aimed to deepen the bond between South American nations..”  EU like system

Economics  General Goals: Eradicate poverty and overcome inequality Financial Integration Exchange of information, training and experience  Elimination of tariffs  Bank of the South Similar to World Bank  Common Currency

Infrastructure  “Infrastructure and the related services, by their very nature, act as vehicles for territorial, economic and social cohesion…”  Transportation key Roads Railways Institutional reform  EX. Interoceanic Highway

Defense  General goals: Zone of peace and contributor of world peace A South American identity on defense Regional cooperation on defense  Not like NATO Cooperative; Multilateral military cooperation No standing military  EX. UnasurHaiti

OAS  Organization of American States  Consists of every country in North, South and Central America  Founded in 1948  Based in Washington DC  Four pillars are– Democracy, human rights, security and development

Differences with OAS  Share many of the same objectives, primarily promoting democracy  Main difference is approach to defense  UNASUR successfully intervened in Bolivia during the 2008 Bolivian crisis, on the other hand OAS opted to stay away from Bolivia

Relationship with OAS  Since its development UNASUR has taken significant power away from OAS  South Americans see OAS usefully since it has members that are not part of UNASUR  They do see UNASUR as a more effective option for South America itself

Relationship (Cont.)  Worked together during the 2008 Andean Crisis when Colombia attacked FARC group on Ecuadorian soil  UNASUR often undermines OAS mainly because most South American leaders see UNASUR as a better option

Relationship (Cont.)  Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister, Celso Amorim said, “ I believe that for the exercise of good offices among South American countries UNASUR or Merocusor, depending on which case, can be more effective”

Synopsis  UNASUR and OAS do not have a bad relationship, but since its development UNASUR has taken a great deal of power from OAS in regards to South American foreign relations and most South American leaders see UNASUR as a more effective option

Benefits of councils ISAGS - South American Institute of Government in Health:  Provides higher quality training to Healthcare providers.  Closer monitoring of possible health risks in order to avoid future diseases  Possibility of a Universal health care system

Benefits of councils South American Council for the World drug problem:  Will create programs for addicts to reduce or completely stop drug use.  Negative and positive incentives are set in place to encourage success.  Change the world’s opinion on South America.

Benefits of councils Defense Council of South America:  Allows for countries to seek diplomatic resolution to issues instead of violence and International intervention.  Promote South America as a place for peace.  Exchange of information between countries for better chance at maintaining peace.

Discussion  Will Unasur and OAS continue to work together on various issues or will they come into conflict with each other on many issues?  Will Unasur help and promote democracy in Latin America?  Will Unasur have the success that the EU has had?

Works Cited   Infrastructure.pdf Infrastructure.pdf      hereandnow.wbur.org hereandnow.wbur.org   sperglord.wordpress.com sperglord.wordpress.com