Brazilian Impressions

 
The Brazilian Secret Service
had a tight grip on the situation...

...a touch of "Apocalypse Now" was added to the scene by
  cruising Brazilian Army Helicopters (image can be used as wallpaper).

 click here to see the hidden side of
the Brazilian secret service...

 Image from the first Press-Briefing

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer
at the initial Press conference of the German Delegation
(transcript to follow...)

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to view more pictures: click here

Opening address by Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
EU-Latin America Caribbean Summit

Rio, 28 June 1999

Dear Fernando Henrique Cardoso,
I would like to thank you, on behalf of my European colleagues as well, for the cordial welcome and the excellent preparation of this summit of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean. I want to thank you also that you have arranged in a very friendly way our seating so that we Europeans could appreciate the incomparable panorama of Rio, a city of which so many Europeans are dreaming.

Our common history as we all know, spans a period of over 500 years. On the eve of a new millenium we are meeting at this high level for the first time. We want to establish a strategic partnership between Europe, on the one hand, and Latin America and the Caribbean, on the other hand, a partnership which will help shape the architecture of international relations, this at least is our resolve.

We will be building on the solid foundation of relations between our two world regions. Both Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean are simultaneously cultivating close relations with the United States of America and Canada. We Europeans want to further extend the transatlantic partnership; only a few days ago President Clinton was in Bonn for the EU/US summit.

On the other hand the western hemisphere is preparing to establish a free trade zone from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego with effect from 2005. Against this background - and with a view to our meeting today and tomorrow in Rio - the outlines of a comprehensive transatlantic triangle are emerging. This certainly includes economic competition, but also and above all: economic cooperation. And this involves closer political cooperation as well as an even tighter cultural interdependence.

Europe needs and wants strong and stable partners. We therefore support the cooperation and integration in Latin America and the Caribbean. This not only involves the integration of markets and trade. The European Union owes its unique success worldwide in particular to the political dimension of integration.

The last six months have brought three decisive developments, not to say breakthroughs, for Europe:

1. The first important date was the introduction of the Euro. Since 1 January 1999 eleven European countries have had a common currency: a step which will leave its mark on the international currency system. Do not be deceived by short-term fluctuations in the Euro against the Dollar. The Euro will be a stable currency supported by the largest economic area in the world.

2. In March this year we adopted in Berlin what we called Agenda 2000 and what constitutes the financial architecture for Europe for the years 2000 to 2006 and what constitutes at the same time the bases for the enlargement of Europe towards the East and the Southeast. Europe will not remain - that is our firm determination - a continent confined to the border of the Oder, to the border towards Poland, Czechnia and Hungary or towards any other country. This established a decisive pre-requisite for the enlargement of the European Union.

3. Europe has learned from the experience of Kosovo. At the European Council in Cologne we decided to take now the next step towards a common security and defense policy.

These six months have also brought important progress in cooperation between Europe and Latin America: shortly before this summit it was possible to adopt a mandate for negotiations on free trade between the EU and Mercosur and also with Chile. I consider this to be a big progress, and the qualification used by President Cardoso when he spoke of a "historical dimension", I consider it absolutely right. You all know that it was not easy. I would ask you to remember that such an agreement between two areas of integration has never existed before. We are breaking new ground. I would like the negotiations to be conducted swiftly and to reach a successful conclusion.

Economic prosperity with a chance to share in the fruits of their combined labors for as many people as possible requires political stability. Following their return to democracy and the establishment of Mercosur, Brazil and Argentina have renounced any nuclear rivalry. Both have now signed the non-proliferation treaty. Looking at the situation in southern Asia, I would say that Mercosur, Latin America and the Caribbean have taken the better path.

Rightly so, for the new European Union represents a historically unique example of the peace-building effect of political and economic integration across borders. War between members of the European Union has today become unthinkable. That success story has now to be expanded and the countries of central and south-eastern Europe prepared for EU membership.

This also includes the Balkans, where over the last ten years the Belgrade regime has been responsible for a succession of wars, population displacements and ethnic hatred. NATO has demonstrated that the international community is no longer prepared to put up with that. With the stability pact for south-eastern Europe we have laid the foundations for that region also to become a haven of peace and progress, because we all know: in the long run political stability and peace can only be secured if solid economic and social bases are established.

I am well aware that in Latin America and the Caribbean a leading role for the United Nations was considered important. I can assure you that we were and are of the same mind and have therefore done our utmost to overcome the Security Council´s inability to act, by involving Russia and consulting with China.

The United Nations is a driving force behind the peace settlement and we are also grateful to our Latin American and Caribbean friends for their support for the steps required. At the same time, developments have once again shown the need for reform of the United Nations. We stand by the United Nations charter, just as we stand by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted 50 years ago - without any possible doubt -.

That also means that we cannot stand idly by while murder and deportation deprive entire populations of their elementary rights and neighboring countries are substantially destabilized as a result.

Latin America and the Caribbean are now free of international conflicts. The agreement between Peru and Ecuador has shown that regional peace efforts can be a successful way of settling disputes. Central America´s civil wars are at an end and the difficult stage of consolidating internal peace and democracy has begun. This also means that it must be possible for the majority of the population to live in dignity and free from poverty.

Hurricane Mitch has set back many areas of Central America by years. The European Union has decided on a EURO 250 million program of assistance, in addition to the many bilateral initiatives by EU Member States.

Latin America now needs to built internal peace and consolidate democracy. In Colombia - we see this with great respect - President Pastrana has shown great courage in holding peace talks with all warring factions. In that he enjoys our absolute support. At the same time I appeal to those who up to now have resorted to violence to put an end to it. Massacres by paramilitary forces are to be condemned in just the same way as terrorism. Hijacking aircraft or dragging people off in the middle of church services are criminal acts. There can be no justification for such deeds.

Building internal peace also means tackling organized crime and especially drugs crime. In April, experts from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean launched a joint mechanism...

further scan preview: The Heads of State of South-America,
the Caribbean and Europe meet outside the "Rio Restaurant"
 

The serene Heads of State are having fun giving one of their colleagues rabbit-ears

The Brazilian President entertains his guest apparently with anecdotes...

...dangerous Close-Up of Fernando Henrique Cardoso's
argument. Who or what is he trying to measure up?

Waving at the Media in Rio de Janeiro

French, Dutch, Spanish, (Swedish?), English and European Union
Leaders like to smile in Rio (who's the small fellow?)

 
Images from the Dinner Party
held in the gardens of the
Museum of Modern Art, Rio

Images from the unveiling of a sculpture in
the Sculpture Gardens in Rio
by EU-President
Jacques Santer

Detail of Sculpture on the fusion of Christianity
and Afro-Caribbean religion (Obâ) as unveiled by
EU-President Jacques Santer
 

Images from the final Press-Conference

EU - President Jacques Santer

The Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo

The Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and
Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso