Monday, March 1, 2010
Declaration: Summit on Latin American & Caribbean Unity
Presidency of the Republic
Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico, February 23, 2010
1.
The heads of state and government of the Latin
American and Caribbean countries gathered together at the Unity Summit comprising the 21st Summit of the Río Group and the
2nd Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development (CALC) in the Riviera Maya, Mexico on February 23,
2010.
2. Determined to construct a common space to expand the political, economic, social
and cultural integration of our region and establish effective commitments involving joint action for the promotion of the
sustainable development of Latin America and the Caribbean within a framework of unity, democracy, unrestricted respect for
human rights, solidarity, cooperation, complementarity and political agreement;
3. Convinced
that the Latin American and Caribbean region should continue reaffirming its presence in the forums to which it belongs and
make declarations on major issues and events on the global agenda;
4. Highlighting the
importance of expanding communication, cooperation, articulation, synergy, convergence of actions and the exchange of experiences
between the various sub-regional integration processes and mechanisms;
5. Repeating our
commitment to multilateralism and the United Nations as the best forum for the promotion of peace, human rights, international
cooperation for development and constructing a fair global economic system.
6. Confirming
the principles of solidarity, flexibility, gradualness, plurality, diversity, complementary actions and voluntary participation
embodied in the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development in Salvador, Bahía as the formula for dealing
with the challenges faced by our region and achieving our objectives.
Have decided to:
1. Intensify the political dialogue between our states and use political
agreement to translate our principles and values into consensuses. The region requires a method of reinforced political agreement
to strengthen its international position, which will translate into rapid, effective actions that promote Latin American and
Caribbean interests in the face of the new issues on the international agenda.
2. To
this end, to increase the harmonization of regional positions through global meetings and conferences and adopt a more dynamic
profile to achieve political agreement and dialogue with other regions and countries, on the basis of the conviction that
this dialogue will help to promote the region and increase its influence on the interdependent, globalized international scenario.
3.
Confirm that the preservation of democracy and democratic values, the validity of institutions and the rule of law, the commitment
to the respect and enforcement of all human rights for all are key objectives for our countries.
4.
Promote an integrated agenda, on the basis of the Rio Group heritage and the CALC agreements as well as existing mechanisms
and groups to promote integration, cooperation and which together constitute a valuable regional asset based on shared principles
and values, with the aim of lending continuity to our mandates through a work program that will promote effective links, cooperation,
economic growth with equity and social justice in harmony with nature for sustainable development and the integration of Latin
America and the Caribbean as a whole.
5. To this end, to agree to implement a working
program based on the following key spheres and lines of action:
Cooperation between regional and sub-regional
integration mechanisms
6. Intensify dialogue, coordination, interaction, consensus, synergy
and convergence of actions between regional and sub-regional mechanisms of action in Latin America and the Caribbean to increase
integration and speed up regional development through the coordination of common and complementary projects.
7.
Urge regional and sub-regional organizations and mechanisms to promote specific schemes to promote the exchange of experiences
and the identification of the areas of cooperation and necessary synergies and convergence of actions between the various
sub-regional processes to take specific steps that will enable us to explore the various dimensions of integration.
Economic
Issues
International Financial Crisis
8. We have positive expectations
on the basis of certain signs of recovery in the world economy. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the serious and continuous impact
of the crisis on certain countries in the region. In particular, we took note of the particular challenges faced by middle-income
countries, including the small, vulnerable and highly indebted ones as well as the need for greater attention by the international
community to promote their recovery.
9. In view of the impact of the latest international
financial crisis on the region, we wish to promote greater cooperation as regards financial and regulatory policies. We therefore
propose a broad dialogue by consulting, where appropriate, the level of regional experts or Ministers of Finance or their
equivalent with a view to building a new international financial architecture that will guarantee the democratization and
transparency of international financial management and the strengthening of the regulation mechanisms in order to establish
effective instruments for governance and prevention and an immediate response to future crises.
10. Emphasize
that the reform of international financial institutions should take into account the adaptation of international financial
instruments to the financing needs of developing countries, including the availability of preventive instruments.
11.
Support a substantial reform of financial regulations, in accordance with the internal legislation of each country, in order
to achieve a more representative, fairer and more sustainable global regulatory in the long term.
12. Instruct
the Ministers of Finance or their equivalent to draw up a strategy to ensure the progressive construction of a regional and
sub-regional financial architecture that will include consideration of the following proposals:
a) A voluntary,
multilateral system of payments on the basis of the enhancement and expansion of existing experiences in the region, including
payment mechanisms in national currency.
b) Evaluation of existing mechanisms in common currency.
c) Strengthening or
development of regional mechanisms for stabilizing the balance of payments.
d) Integration of financial markets at the
regional and sub-regional level with proper supervision, regulation and transparency mechanisms.
e) Strengthening and creation
of financial institutions or funds to support development and integration projects in the region, including the coordination
of these funds and institutions.
f) Cooperation between national and regional development banks.
13. Organize
a meeting on the ALADI Agreement on Reciprocal Payments and Credits (CCR) to be arranged by this Association, to which representatives
of other existing reciprocal payment and credit systems in the region will be invited, together with Latin American and Caribbean
countries that are not CCR members in order to exchange information on this system.
14. As part of the strengthening
of institutions or financial funds to support development projects, welcome the signing of the constitutive agreement of Banco
del Sur by the presidents of its member countries as one of the pillars of the regional integration process.
Trade
15.
Repeat the importance of increasing the integration of our countries in order to achieve higher levels of growth and economic
and social development and guarantee the region's more effective participation in the world economy, which will encourage
the reduction of the technical barriers that hinder trade.
16. Continue promoting integration initiatives of
a regional, sub-regional, multilateral and bilateral scope, open to international trade, with the conviction that it will
permit the creation of a common Latin American and Caribbean economic space.
17. Instruct our Ministers of Foreign
Trade or their counterparts to draw up and agree on the necessary measures to preserve and expand, for the benefit of the
countries in the region, the levels of trade and access to markets with the aim of encouraging inter-regional trade in goods
and services, since this constitutes an important tool for offsetting the drop in demand registered in the rest of the world.
We also urged them to implement measures designed to encourage access to the export market for developing countries, particularly
the smallest countries and developing countries without a coastline. We wish to create the market condition that will permit
more and fairer participation by these countries in order to take advantage of the benefits of intraregional trade.
18.
Instruct the Ministers of Foreign Trade to continue working to promote the construction of a more just and fairer multilateral
trade system capable of satisfying the needs of developing countries, particularly those of relatively less developed countries.
In this respect, we stress the urgent need to conclude the negotiation of the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
19. Thank the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) for its contributions to the policies
leading to the development and integration of Latin American and Caribbean Countries and support the organization of its 33rd
Period of Sessions in late May in Brazil.
Energy
20. Stress that Latin America and the Caribbean
are facing serious challenges in energy issues linked to the increase in demand and fluctuation in energy prices and supply
and we acknowledge the pressing need to reduce the region's vulnerability in this respect.
21. Acknowledge the
need to increase and undertake specific action that will enable smaller economies and less developed countries to achieve
constant, fair, balance access to the various forms of energy while providing sustainable economic and social development
for our countries. We also highlight the importance of cooperation and integration as means of promoting efficiency and energy
savings as well as the rational and efficient use of both fossil and renewable energy sources.
22. Take advantage
of the possibilities of the complementary nature of regional and sub-regional energy supplies. To this end, we will boost
efforts to make efficient use of traditional energy sources and establish means that will promote the use and expansion of
renewable energy sources by promoting the exchange of experiences and technology transfer in national bio-fuel, wind turbine,
geothermal, solar energy, and electricity hydro-generation programs and other new energy technologies. We therefore state
that it is essential to make investments in our countries that will permit the long-term development in our countries of renewable
and non-renewable energies as well as technology transfer and the technical training required to achieve efficient, sustainable
solutions in both production and energy consumption.
23. Confirm the importance of energy as a fundamental resource
in sustainable development as well as the sovereign right of each country to establish the conditions for the exploitation
of its energy resources. We therefore renew our commitment to advancing towards the processes of cooperation and integration
of our countries on the basis of solidarity and complementarity as a continuous effort for achieving the fair, sustainable
growth of their nations. In this respect, we hail the valuable energy cooperation and integration initiatives being implemented
in the region.
Physical Integration and Infrastructure
24. Express our commitment to the effective
geographical integration of Latin America and the Caribbean through the creation of the necessary physical infrastructure
and the convergence between the various processes of sub-regional integration, as a result of which we will begin drawing
up and implementing a strategy of physical integration of the region.
25. Intensify efforts in the field of infrastructure
to: promote and implement policies to expand connectivity and projects for increasing air, maritime, river and land transport
services as well as multimodal transport; design and implement public policies that will deal with the requirements of border
integration to speed up their achievement by taking advantage of existing frameworks and initiatives and identifying and overcoming
normative and regulatory difficulties.
26. Increase exchanges between the Mesoamerica Project and the integration
mechanisms within the sphere of UNASUR through the Infrastructure and Planning Council (CIP) which will incorporate the IIRSA.
We will promote the incorporation into this dialogue of both the equivalent Caribbean organizations and those established
at ALBA-TOP and Petrocaribe to organize similar meetings between sub-regional mechanisms linked to the integration of the
physical infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Science and Technology
27. Promote the
issue of "Technology and Productive Development" in the Latin American and Caribbean dialogues with other international actors.
28.
Acknowledge the potential of information and communications technologies for the development of democracy, the economy and
social progress. We therefore highlight the usefulness of sharing knowledge, technology and information by making use of the
infrastructure of connectivity and promoting universal access to the latter among our populations.
29. Strengthen
our determination to ensure the transformation of major scientific development achieved in the region during the past decade
into services, products and processes that are available to the economies and societies of Latin American and Caribbean countries
through inclusive innovation policies.
Social Development
Social Programs and the Eradication of
Hunger and Poverty
30. Repeat that hunger and poverty are one of the worst forms of human rights violations.
That is why the fight to eradicate them is an ethical, political and economic challenge for everyone. In this endeavor, it
is essential to explore and implement new forms of international cooperation and solidarity to support national efforts and
guarantee access to quality, nutrient-rich goods to advance towards more integrated, more participatory societies with a human
face and social inclusion in a globalized world.
31. Focus the effort of social policy on the most vulnerable
population to meet the challenge of poverty, inequality and hunger and achieve the greater economic and social development
of Latin American and Caribbean nations on the basis of integrality, non-discrimination and the recognition of persons as
subjects with rights. We will therefore continue to promote social development policies to ensure an approach within national
spheres that will prioritize the programs designed to reduce poverty, inequality and hunger.
32. In relation
to the Millennium Development Goals and given that in September 2010, the High Level Session of the United Nations General
Assembly will be held on this issue, we express our concern over the slow progress in its achievement, which is why we stress
the need to promote greater efforts to achieve it.
33. Guarantee that the regional and international trade agreements
in which the countries in the region participate reflect the needs related to social development with equity, access to nutritional
foods in keeping with local customs and the sustainable implementation of the Millennium Goals and other development goals
that have been internationally agreed on.
34. Promoting the drawing up of an integral public policy action plan
in social issues to achieve cooperation and increase the effectiveness of aid for medium and low income countries according
to the agreements made at top-level international conferences on the matter.
35. Acknowledge the fact that
since, the eradication of poverty, full productive employment for all and social integration are interdependent and mutually
reinforcing, one should create a suitable environment to ensure that all these objectives can be simultaneously achieved.
Food
and nutritional security
36. Promote the regional coordination of initiatives and the exchange of technologies
and the recovery of traditional technologies among other actions to guarantee food and nutritional security through public
policies that promote rural development, sustainable food production, and its hygiene, storage, distribution and commercialization,
as well as agricultural credit and insurance.
37. Incorporate a human rights and gender perspective into the
drawing up and review of national strategies oriented towards guaranteeing food and nutritional security, with a broad degree
of social participation, particularly of the most vulnerable sectors and we will not permit monopolistic abuse in the
food sector.
38. Promote productive, technological and investment development as well as the introduction of
socially and environmentally healthy agricultural production technologies, and increase the productivity and competitiveness
of small and medium producers, including peasants and their access to productive resources.
39. Strengthen integration
processes in the food sphere and combine efforts to support the Latin America and the Caribbean without Hunger Initiative
2025.
Education, health and public services
40. Expand regional cooperation to promote universal,
fair, quality access to elementary education and health, sanitation and safe drinking water services, particularly for persons
living in extreme poverty. We will attempt to deal with youth's specific health needs, ensure the reduction of child malnutrition
and mortality, improve maternal health and combat the epidemics with the greatest impact, paying particular attention to rural
zones.
41. Attempt to guarantee that national youth development policies and programs deal with their specific
needs and involve young people and the organizations they run in the development of national policies that affect them.
42.
Adopt integral, flexible programs, adapted to the socioeconomic and cultural realities of each country, region or population
group, which will permit the eradication of illiteracy in all Latin American and Caribbean countries before 2015.
43.
Expand regional cooperation as a coordinated, integral response to guarantee the reduction of child mortality, the improvement
of maternal health, particularly in rural areas and the fight against high-impact epidemics such as HIV/AIDS and the H1N1
virus. We will work at the national, regional and international level to reduce and control the dissemination of non-transmissible
diseases which pose a serious threat to development and we will celebrate the initiative of CARICOM member countries to organize
a High-level Meeting at the United Nations headquarters on chronic non-transmissible diseases in 2011.
Culture
44.
Confirm that all cultures have the right to exist and preserve the traditional and age-old practices inherent in their identity.
In this respect, we will promote the history, traditions, values, cultural diversity and mutual understanding between the
peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, due to the positive contribution this will have in the expansion of regional integration.
We will also encourage cooperation, cultural integration and the development of creative industries.
45. Recognize,
in keeping with the respect for human rights and the well-being of our peoples, the right of our states to establish, in keeping
with international law, the normative actions and other measures they regard as necessary for preserving and defending the
ancestral expressions of their peoples, which should be respected by the international community.
46. Encourage
cultural diversity as an essential component of public policies for reducing poverty, promoting equity and achieving the Millennium
Development Goals.
Migration
47. Promote full respect for the human rights of migrants and their
families, in the countries of origin, transit and destination, regardless of their migratory condition and we will work to
ensure that migration occurs in an informed, safe fashion, in keeping with the rules related to consular assistance. We confirm
our determined commitment to combat the racism and xenophobia to which migrants may be subjected by encouraging recognition
of their capacities as political, economic, cultural and scientific actors, primarily to promote processes of development
and integration in the societies of origin and destination.
48. Continue intensifying the actions oriented at
preventing and combating people trafficking and all forms of illicit trafficking and exploitation of migrants and guarantee
the full protection and care of the victims of these crimes, particularly of women, children and teenagers. Likewise, create
forms of coordination between countries of origin, transit and destination to fight these crimes.
49. Facilitate
the integration of migrants into the host societies, encourage facilities for residence, work and regularization in keeping
with national legislation.
50. Promote cooperation and the exchange of experiences and good practices at the
national, regional and sub-regional level in fighting organized crime, the illegal trafficking of migrants and people trafficking
particularly when this involves protecting the most vulnerable groups of migrants: children, teenagers, women, first peoples
and Afro-descendants.
Gender
51. We are convinced that the economic and social development of our
countries and the achievement of full democracy are only possible on the basis of effective equity between men and women which
is why we are promoting the inclusion of the gender perspective in the design, implementation and evaluation of all public
policies.
52. On the occasion of the OAS Declaration of 2010 as Inter-American Women's Year, we pledge to continue
working for the full implementation of the Inter-American Convention for preventing, sanctioning and eradicating violence
against women (Belem do Pará Convention) and the objectives contained in the Beijing Declaration and its action platform,
adopted fifteen years ago.
53. Prioritize the eradication of hunger and poverty and the actions that will guarantee
that all the men and women in our region have decent food and housing, access to health –including the sexual and reproductive
dimension- education and decent work, in order to be able to achieve decent living standards.
Sustainable Development
54.
Act positively in the construction of an international cooperation strategy that will strengthen links between the environment
and development, by supporting the efforts of developing countries without a coastline, small developing island and coastal
states and encouraging actins that will protect and place a high value on the region's natural heritage.
55.
Encourage the identification, strengthening and exchange of good sustainable development practices in the region, in issues
such as the incorporation of the environmental component into government actions, social participation in public policies
and the sustainable management of natural resources. We will promote initiatives in order to turn Latin American and Caribbean
countries into exporters of environmental services.
56. Strengthen the Latin American and Caribbean Initiative
for Sustainable Development (ILAC).
57. Promote cooperation in the sustainable management of natural heritage,
the conservation of biodiversity, ecosystems and water.
58. Acknowledge and hail Ecuador’s decision to
promote the "Yasuní-ITT” Initiative since it constitutes an effective, voluntary means of dealing with the problem of
climate change, guarantee the survival of indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation and guarantee the preservation of one
of the most biodiverse places in the world.
59. Realize that the true actions for coping with the problems derived
from climate change, such as the initiatives for the sustainable environmental management of forests and other key ecosystems
such as wetlands; energy efficiency and the development of new, renewable energy sources; the transformation of transport
systems; scientific and technological innovation, can only be sustainable if they are implemented in a socially and
environmentally responsible way by respecting all the rights of peoples and communities.
Climate Change
60.
We express our concern over the rate at which global warming is advancing and state that it is essential to combine efforts
to support the initiatives of our countries to cope jointly with the threat posed by climate change. In this respect, we stress
our commitment to the full, effective, sustained implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
and the Kyoto Protocol in a global effort on the basis of the principle of shared but different responsibilities, the respective
national capacities and the legitimate aspirations of developing countries.
61. Within the sphere of the Conference
of Parties to the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change and in light of the latter, promote a predictable,
transparent, effective financial mechanism that will ensure the proper supply of new, additional, sufficient international
financial flows to support the mitigation and adaptation efforts of our countries in keeping with the Convention on Climate
Change.
62. Stress the need for developed countries to meet their commitments under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change as regards the financing of, access to and transfer of technology and the creation of sufficient
capacities in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly the less
developed countries and small developing island states and coastal countries with lowlands to offer unconditional cooperation
in mitigation and adaptation.
63. We also welcome the fact that our region will host the 16th Conference of the
Parties to the Convention (COP 16) and the 6th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 6) and we support the Mexico
so that, through a process of transparent and inclusive negotiation, it will be possible to ensure a broad, ambitious, effective
agreement that will meet the challenges and needs of our region and result in the strengthening of the international regime
established in the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol, for the benefit of mankind
as a whole. We agree that the COP 16 results must be legally binding as a decisive step in the fight against climate change.
Natural
Disasters
64. Highlight the urgent need to implement and develop the various commitments and mandates assumed
by the Latin American and Caribbean governments regarding natural disasters, particularly the establishment of a mechanism
that will provide a swift, appropriate coordinated response to the latter at the request of the state concerned. To this end,
stress the coordinating role of the appropriate organizations in this sphere.
65. Stress the intrinsic link between
disaster reduction, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty among other things and acknowledge the need to
strengthen the capacity for prevention, mitigation, response and aid for disaster victims through the adoption of appropriate
policies and the increase in international cooperation to strengthen and boost national capacities. We also acknowledge the
importance of the Declaration and the Framework of Action of Hyogo, the Barbados Action Plan, the Inter-American Program for
Sustainable Development and the Florianopolis Declaration of the 2nd Regional Meeting of International Mechanisms of Humanitarian
Assistance for member countries, in dealing with the problem of disasters.
66. Ensure the necessary coordination
between the mechanisms of prevention, risk reduction, mitigation and response to natural disasters at the national, regional
and global levels in the efforts to achieve the objectives of reducing the risk of natural disasters. We propose to incorporate
the issue of risk reduction as a result of natural disasters in planning policies and processes and to increase the capacity
for resistance at the community, local, national and regional level through research, the expansion of mechanisms to share
the cost of risk prevention and the exchange of data and information, among other things.
67. Strengthen regional
initiatives for humanitarian assistance and promote the establishment of mutual assistance protocols or other simplified mechanisms
for responding to natural disasters.
68. Instruct Latin American and Caribbean organizations and institutions
with experience in these areas: the Caribbean Agency for Emergency Management in the Event of Disaster (CDEMA), the Coordination
Center for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Latin America (CEPREDENAC), the Andean Committee for Disaster Prevention
and Assistance (CAPRADE), and the Specialized Meeting on Reducing the Risk of Socio-Natural Disasters, Civil Defense, Civil
Protection and Mercosur Humanitarian Aid (REHU) to define synergies between them and urgently implement a regional scheme
of coordination and cooperation that will make it possible to optimize resources and increase our capacity and efficiency
in preparing our populations and responding in the event of natural disasters.
69. Promote measures for education
and training for environmental protection to create collective awareness and therefore mitigate the effects of man-made natural
disasters.
70. Create an open Working Group to advance towards the implementation of these objectives.
Human
Rights
71. Affirm the principle that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, inter-dependent
and inter-related, meaning that the same attention should be given to the application, promotion and protection of both civil
and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.
72. Encourage
and strengthen international cooperation for the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, in
keeping with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international legal instruments involving both human rights and
international humanitarian law.
73. Reinforce the incorporation of the gender approach into the design and implementation
of our policies, in strategic tasks for economic and social development and in the reinforcement of democracy.
74.
Encourage the exchange of national experiences in the preparation and submission of reports to the Universal Periodic Review
Mechanism (UPR) as an effective instrument for the consideration and promotion of human rights in all countries in equal conditions,
according to the commitments of each country. We will work to preserve the integrity, objectivity and equilibrium of
this mechanism.
75. Boost human rights education. We will promote policies to ensure inclusive, quality education
for all, with full adherence to values such as tolerance, solidarity and equity, the promotion of the gender approach and
respect for the diversity and cultural identity of our peoples.
76. Promote the recognition and implementation
of third generation or solidarity rights, particularly the right to development, as well as dealing with the issue of adults'
rights.
Security Issues
77. We believe it is essential to boost the initiative capacity of Latin
American and Caribbean states to support the multilateral system for peace, security and development based on strict compliance
with international law and adhering to the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter.
78. Consider that
the new threats to security, such as terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the world problem of drugs and related
crimes, organized transnational crime, illicit arms trafficking and the common crime that affects citizens- security, threats
to international public health, particularly HIV/AIDS and H1N1, natural disasters, the passage of toxic waste and radioactive
material through our water, among other things and in particular, their effects in Latin America and the Caribbean must be
dealt with in an integral fashion through effective, coordinated, supportive international cooperation, through competent
organizations and institutions, based on respect for the states' sovereignty, each country's internal legislation and law.
79. With the aim of expanding actions to promote socio-economic development with democracy, justice and independence,
we believe it is necessary to affirm the concept that the security of our region should deal with aspects of both peace and
stability, such as those that involve political, economic and financial vulnerability, in keeping with international law.
In this respect, we repeat the region's commitment to agreeing on actions to:
Encourage initiatives in favor
of international disarmament and security;
Encourage reciprocal trust and promote a peaceful solution to the problems and
conflicts affecting the region;
Contribute, through cooperation and consultation, to the defense, strengthening and consolidation
of democratic institutions;
Promote and expand political dialogue with other states and groups of states inside and outside
the region;
Reconcile positions in order to reinforce multilateralism and the democratization of the adoption of international
decisions;
Continue establishing peace and cooperation zones in our region;
Encourage integration and cooperation processes
for development with a view to boosting the autonomy of the region;
Engage in an active, coordinated struggle to eradicate
poverty, hunger, marginalization, illiteracy and lack of sanitation;
Reinforce cooperation against drug trafficking and
terrorism.
80. Peace in our region is closely linked to the respect for countries' principles of free determination,
non-intervention in states' internal issues, the peaceful solution of controversies, the prevention of the threat of use of
force, legal equality of the states and international cooperation for development.
World Drug Problem
81.
Confirm our countries’ commitment to the fight against the world drug problem, with an integral, balanced approach based
on the validity of the principle of shared responsibility, by virtue of which we stress the importance of international cooperation
regarding the sovereignty of each state.
82. Ratify our firm commitment to continue actions to prevent the illegal
consumption, production, trafficking and distribution of drugs and psychotropic substances and related crimes. We are convinced
that this struggle, which should be part of an integral solution comprising the social and economic aspects related to this
source, will contribute to the social and human development of our societies and to the fulfillment of mutual commitments.
Terrorism
83.
Forcefully reject terrorism in all its forms and manifestations confirm the fact that there is no justification for this,
regardless of its origin or motivation. They also repeated their commitment to preventing, combating and eliminating terrorism
and its financing through broad cooperation and with full respect for the obligations imposed by internal law and international
law, particularly human rights and international humanitarian law.
South-South Cooperation
84. Highlight
the importance of South-South cooperation, inspired by the spirit of solidarity, without substituting or replacing traditional
sources of cooperation for development.
85. Promote South-South and North-South cooperation for the promotion
of sustainable development and we will continue promoting triangular cooperation within the multilateral system.
86.
Urge the international community to continue providing cooperation to support the development efforts of middle-income countries
as agreed at the El Salvador Consensus on Cooperation for Development with Middle Income Countries. Within this Framework,
we repeat the importance of promoting the timely implementation of United Nations resolutions and of implementing actions
to achieve this cooperation.
Lastly,
87. Incorporate the Montego Bay Action Plan as an appendix
to this Declaration in order to expand the fulfillment of the Latin American and Caribbean agenda.
88. The heads
of state and government of Latin American and Caribbean countries thank the Mexican President for the initiative of holding
the Latin American and Caribbean Unity Summit in the Riviera Maya, Mexico on February 22 and 23 and thanked the Mexican government
and people for their warm welcome and hospitality, which facilitated the successful outcome of the Summit.
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Press Release:
Presidency of the Republic, February 25, 2010, Mexico City; translation Presidency of the Republic
