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Introduction
Tristan Garel-Jones
In economic and social terms
I am very pleased to present the first edition of the magazine FORUM published by the Fundación Euroamérica. As we move into the new millennium we have at our disposal tools and technologies which
enable us to communicate and talk to one another with an intimacy
and a immediacy never imagined.
For Europe and Latin America this is a vital dialogue. In economic, social and cultural terms we have much to learn from one another. The purpose of the Fundación Euroamérica and of this publication is to provide a FORUM for these discussions.
There is much discussion right across Latin America about trade and political co-operation. Mercosur is now an established fact and perhaps may soon be joined by others. The Andean Pact has, 1 feel, been something of a disappointment but the need for dialogue and co-operation remains. The Central American countries continue to strive for greater unity and Mexico is making a success of the NAFTA. We in Europe, too, are in the process of building and developing the European Union.
We have made mistakes along the way but the overall balance sheet is positive and we very much hope that some of our successes and failures may be useful to our Latin American friends; the former hopefully to be emulated and avoided.
But it is also true that, in what has been described as the post-modem world, the beginning of wisdom is to establish a sound and constructive relationship with the United States of America. AII of us in Europe have contributed in some measure to the melting pot that is that great nation.
And perhaps the most important new element on the North American scene today is the growing Latin influence within the United States. The Foundation Euroamerica, in part through the vehicle of FORUM, intends to make a contribution to a greater understanding between the peoples of Europe and Latin America and, hopefully, enable us both to understand better, and work more closely with, the new Leviathan in North America.
Carlos Solchaga
A new world of possibilities is opening on both sides of the Atlantic
For too many years now, relations between Spain and the countries of Latin America have been anchored in the rhetoric of a common past and a shared culture. Today, this situation appears to have been overcome once and for all, following the democratization of the Latin-American countries, although unfortunately there are still places, Cuba being one, in which democracy has not yet penetrated, and although the understanding in Spain and in Europe of the problems faced by the Latin American continent are far from what could be expected. It is, however, clear that we are now facing a totally different situation.
A new world of possibilities is opening up little by little on both sides of the Atlantic. Globalization affects us all, but it brings us closer to those who share a similar view of the world, and we are guided by freedom and brotherhood in our process of civilization. Currently, Latin America and Europe have more economic and social interests in common than ever before, and they have them on an ever more equal footing, without any claims of economic hegemony on the part of the European countries. Latin America is one of the great social experiments of our time; the creative energies which will be released during the process of transformation in which this region is immersed are incalculable; the changes which we will witness, multiplied by the boost of new technology, are impossible to predict. Europe must share the effort behind the drive for modernization underway in many Latin American countries. For this, investments and joint ventures are required, which increase mutual trade and dependence, but which will also generate substantial intercultural exchange.
This is the way in which the respective destinies of Europe and Latin America may be brought closer together, aided by the availability of new information technology and a progressive increase in mutual knowledge.
It is from this standpoint, in this economically globalized world, guided by humanitarian values and ethics, concepts shared by Latin Americans, Europeans, the Fundación Euroamérica and this magazine Forum –the first issue of which 1 am honored to present here–, that we contribute to the strengthening of relations between Latin America and Europe.
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