Washington Post columnist Marcela Sanchez, who writes her column in both Spanish and English, was online Friday, Nov. 4, at noon ET to discuss President Bush 's visit to Argentina for the 34-nation Summit of the Americas.
The transcript follows.
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Washington, D.C.: What is the truth about Chavez? Are Venezolanos better off with him in power? It seems difficult to wade through the massive amounts of media on either side of the discussion...
Marcela Sanchez: I think you ask the crucial question about President Chavez. There are doubts about the effects of his policies on basic economic indicators such as poverty or inequality reduction, so far. Government statistics were recently revised to show better results generating suspicions about their accuracy. Sure, he was elected because of years of leaders neglecting the poor in an oil-rich land. And sure Venezuelan poor have never had such hope as they have today to see their situation improve. But my main concern is the improvisation that many of his programs and policies seem to have,. particularly when he goes around the hemisphere offering assistance in haphazard ways.
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San Francisco, Calif.: With President Bush's approval ratings so low, do you think he will attempt to be more conciliatory toward his negotiating partners in Latin America?
His typical approach, in which he tells others what they need to do on a certain issue, instead of truly working for a consensus where give and take is part of the process, tends I believe to be counterproductive generally. Could the latter approach lead to more broad, workable agreements among our partners in the world?
Marcela Sanchez: Perhaps what best responds to your question has just happened here in Mar del Plata. At a short public appearance after a bilateral meeting with Argentina's President Nestor Kirchner, Bush appeared very jovial even joking that it can't be easy to play host to someone like him. He seemed to make a big effort to talk in terms that Latin Americans (and Argentines in particular in this case) would really appreciate, even talking about the Argentine-born NBA player Emanuel "Manu" Ginbili and his "vital contributions." Of course is too soon to know whether that will take a more give-and-take process in U.S.-Latin American relations but we can only hope...
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Washington, D.C.: Of the 34 nations at this summit, how many support the U.S.? Bush? I'm assuming they may be different questions.
Marcela Sanchez: Let me answer by saying that I am today in the Latin American country where President Bush's approval is at its lowest level, 30 percent, according to an opinion poll released last week. But also here today is President Ricardo Maduro from Honduras, the country where President Bush has a 87 percent approval. That is to say, that when it comes to sentiments about the United States and Bush, Latin America may very well have it all.
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Huntington Woods, Mich.: Considering his independent stance, do you think this summit will help Nestor Kirchner's relations with the IMF and other international bodies? Though the situation in Argentina has improved, the economy still appears to be on a precipice.
Marcela Sanchez: Well, President Bush said this morning that thanks to its economic recovery, Argentina has a stronger hand to play in negotiations with the IMF. I do wonder though, whether this country and Kirchner's government could be having a risky case of self-confidence? I say that because I think you are right, the economy is not all out the woods yet.
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Cleveland, Ohio: Did Bush see the size of the demonstration? Domestically, he is sealed off from any sign of dissent.
Marcela Sanchez: No, he has been kept many blocks away from today's march and those blocks only get longer with the impressive security arrangement that separates them. Still there are more protest planned for later today and they may try to get closer to the official summit. Still, I am sure he doesn't need to see it, to know what is out there.
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New York, N.Y.: Can you tell me the status of the ratification process for CAFTA, the status of the negotiations for a free trade agreement with Panama and the negotiations for a free trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador?
Marcela Sanchez: CAFTA has been ratified by all countries that signed it except for Costa Rica and it is expected to take effect Jan. 1st. As you know, after serious debate, the U.S. Congress ratified it this summer, but the difficulty of getting it through left many doubts about future agreements. Still negotiations continue with the Andean countries but have extended for months longer than initially expected. Also after many rounds differences still remain to finish the bilateral free trade agreement between Panama and the United States.
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Buenos Aires, Argentina: Tiene alguna significacin el hecho de que ningn funcionario importante de la Administracin Kircher haya ido a recibir al Presidente Bush? Matas, 24 Aos.
Marcela Sanchez: Pienso que lo que podria estar ocurriendo quedo aun mas evidente en la aparicion de los Presidentes Bush y Kirchner esta manana. Mientras Bush no pierde nada con aparecer jovial y amigable, Kirchner claramente estaba tratando de mantener una posicion fria y dura, recordando en un par de ocasiones que la entrevista de los dos mandatarios fue franca y dura. Una frase muy diciente para mi fue la Kirchner sobre su dialogo con Bush: "No se busco la placidez sino que se busco la realidad". Claro que al presidir el pais latinoamericano mas antiamericanista en este momento, parece que considera que no le quedaba otra opcion.
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Washington, D.C.: How do we view the relationship between Lula and Bush?
Marcela Sanchez: U.S. and Brazilian officials always make a point of telling you that both men have a very good personal relation. Of course, under the surface, the differences are great particularly when it comes to free trade. Now, President Bush needs a strong ally in a region that philosophically stands ever closer to what Lula represents, and having him as an ally in such environment would be essential.
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Shanghai, China: Do you think ordinary U.S. people care about this summit session? If not, why is Mr.Bush spending his time on this trip?
Marcela Sanchez: Summits are not followed with great interest by people anywhere, I assume China is no exception. Still, for Latin American leaders it is a great opportunity to have President Bush's undivided attention for a little time, particularly considering that President Bush had promised to make this, the Century of the Americas. A promise that got destroyed by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, along with so much more. Many have also argued that considering his own problems at home, Bush could really use this trip to redirect the attention to matters different from those at home.
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Buenos Aires, Argentina: I really don't understand what's the logic behind the Free Trade. Americas are quite different between each others and, therefore, a free trade could hardly work. Besides, shouldn't America drop its protectionist policy? It doesn't make much sense.
Marcela Sanchez: You are referring to many of the concerns that have kept the hemispheric negotiators busy this week. As you may know, as of this morning they were still unable to agree on how to refer to the issue of free trade, particular the Free Trade Area of the Americas, in the final document the presidents are supposed to sign tomorrow. Both the concerns about the differences in size of the countries of the Americas and the farm subsidies from rich countries such as the United States, are the ones that have stalled negotiations toward FTAA. Not surprisingly many developing countries are anxious about next month's Doha round negotiations that are meant to seriously deal with the subsidy issue.
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Washington, D.C.: Good Morning Ms. Sanchez,
I read your column often because you usually strike a very moderate balance on Latin American issues. Today, though, one of your statements I thought was a bit off.
You write, "New economic, social and political experiments, like the kind Chavez is pushing, are not gaining a foothold in Latin America. After 10 years of polling, the Chilean firm Latinobarometro concluded last week that Latin Americans are sold on democracy as a way of life."
Like many people who discuss the Venezuelan process, you seem to be linking to separate concepts: democracy and economic policy. It is possible (some would argue desirable) to live in a democracy with large redistributive social spending, which in my visits to Venezuela seems to be what is happening there.
Venezuela is clearly a democracy, no matter how widely popular, and even powerful, the president becomes, and no matter how much the country spends on programs for the poor.
Marcela Sanchez: I've received a few questions along these lines. So let me try to deal with all of them here.
Marcela Sanchez: And I guess I will have to conclude our chat with this. As we've been chatting, President Chavez has been addressing the anti summit gathering at a local stadium decorated among other things with a huge banner of Che Guevara. I don't know if you would agree, but it is a sad day when people who say to be looking for solutions to the many serious and real problem in Latin America today have to resort to this kind of nostalgic symbolism. And no matter how democratic Chavez may be, when he points to the leader of only un democratic government in our hemisphere as a hero and as model, it seems ever sadder.
Thanks everybody for the wonderful questions and sorry I couldn't get to all. I had some technical difficulties.
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Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
: Guest: Dr. Michael S. Horton