Ladies and Gentlemen:
We thank Peru for the organization of this Dialogue and the cordial invitation extended to us.
Cuba deeply regrets and wishes to register its discomfort for the exclusion of the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Our America is mutilated without the presence of one of the countries of the continent that has contributed the most to the libertarian and integrationist ideal of Latin America and the Caribbean.
This dialogue, and the Summit of Lima itself, should be a meeting point for all the countries of the hemisphere and a space where everyone, without unfair exclusions, can express our ideas, reach consensus, dissent and debate respecting our rich diversity.
We have listened attentively to the presentations made by the spokespersons and spokespersons in this first block of the 28 coalitions that will participate in the Forum of Civil Society and Social Actors of the VIII Summit of the Americas. Some of these have been truly remarkable. I highlight those elements that have attracted our greatest interest:
We share the concern about the concept and the way coalitions were conceived. This new model, which was articulated in a selective and non-transparent way, changed the established rules of the game. This Forum was imposed on a formula that was only proven, with dubious results, at the last OAS General Assembly. As it poses an important limitation to participatory rights and respectful and democratic debate, we believe that it should be revised in the future.
We agree on the essence of this debate when we firmly recognize and reject the progress of political and economic corruption in the region, manifested by the growing inequality in the distribution of wealth and social exclusion that this enormous chasm separates the rich from the poor.
We also recognize the need for an integrated approach in the fight against the scourge of corruption and we value positively the role that civil society and the relevant actors of our countries are called to play in this common effort, where we need greater participation and popular control, as essential ingredients in the implementation of public policies.
Alerto and denounced the composition of coalition 26, which acts on behalf of the so-called Latin American Youth Network for democracy, which has among its coordinators people and organizations of dubious trajectory and with a political agenda of provocations and subversion.
The biggest challenge is ahead. The process of approvals and accreditations that is still in progress will be crucial to guarantee a climate of dialogue and respect. The Forum's credibility is intrinsically linked to the quality of its participants and to the debate of the issues for which we are summoned, without politicization, and without the offensive presence of camouflaged usurpers of civil society.
Thank you very much.
(Embacuba Austria)