| Expectations of the Summit on 4/21 & 22 in New Orleans: The SSPNA |
| Saturday, 12 April 2008 14:12 |
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SecurityCornerMexico.com Recommended READING: Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, ESPAÑOL by Wikipedia & US Business Organizations and Immigration Reform by Bernardo Méndez Lugo
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit charity. What can we expect of the Trinational Security and Prosperity Partnership Meeting taking place in Miami on April 21st and 22nd 2008 in New Orleans?Comments by Bernardo Mendez Lugo, Mexican Diplomat Its worth reproducing some of the seminal ideas of the SPP Initiative published in the US Official site for this Trinational Initiative (www.spp.gov) due to the approaching Meeting that will take place in New Orleans on April 21 and 22st 2008 where President Bush will meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephan Harper. There are many myths and "conspiracy theory" ideas that will be active in a few weeks and since now, it is likely that we can find news, articles and reports "warning" us about the "building of supranational entity", "lost of soverignity" and the building of a "North American Union". It is possible that some wishful thinking can make some newspapers readers, web blogs readers, radio listeners and TV audience in the three countries think that this Meeting and the SPP "will erode National decision making in each of the three countries". The Congress of each one of the three countries are following with sharp and open eyes the developments of SPP and I dont think that the three heads of state will be able to advance any agreement without the Senate Ratification or the proper legislative authority in each of the three countries. However, the SPP is an Initiative not an agreement. Furthermore, legislators of each one of three coiuntries can moderate and guide any kind of decision making and potential executive decision making in any of the three countries. It is complex and difficult to do a forecasting of political events in the three countries, we can expect that important changes can be done, not only for SPP plans but for other Trinational and Binational agreements (Mexico-USA, Canada-USA and Canada-Mexico) in the coming years but also we can have a smooth continuity of the SPP Initiative despite political changes. Citizens of the three countries have to be ready for important innovative views about NAFTA, labor mobility, new foreign policy priorities and economic and political cooperation in ways and paths that we can not imagine today, all depends of the future building of political forces and power structures in each of the three countries. Here is the official US information about SPP, please read more at: www.spp.gov Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) The SPP is a White House-led initiative among the United States and the two nations it borders ¨C Canada and Mexico ¨C to increase security and to enhance prosperity among the three countries through greater cooperation. The SPP is based on the principle that our prosperity is dependent on our security and recognizes that our three great nations share a belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and strong democratic institutions. The SPP outlines a comprehensive agenda for cooperation among our three countries while respecting the sovereignty and unique cultural heritage of each nation. The SPP provides a vehicle by which the United States, Canada, and Mexico can identify and resolve unnecessary obstacles to trade and it provides a means to improve our response to emergencies and increase security, thus benefiting and protecting Americans. The SPP is meant to:
The SPP benefits the American people in many ways, and much progress has already been made. For example::
Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP)Myths vs. FactsMyth: The SPP was an agreement signed by Presidents Bush and his Mexican and Canadian counterparts in Waco, TX, on March 23, 2005. Fact: The SPP is a dialogue to increase security and enhance prosperity among the three countries. The SPP is not an agreement nor is it a treaty. In fact, no agreement was ever signed. Myth: The SPP is a movement to merge the United States, Mexico, and Canada into a North American Union and establish a common currency. Fact: The cooperative efforts under the SPP, which can be found in detail at www.spp.gov, seek to make the United States, Canada and Mexico open to legitimate trade and closed to terrorism and crime. It does not change our courts or legislative processes and respects the sovereignty of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The SPP in no way, shape or form considers the creation of a European Union-like structure or a common currency. The SPP does not attempt to modify our sovereignty or currency or change the American system of government designed by our Founding Fathers. Myth: The SPP is being undertaken without the knowledge of the U.S. Congress. Fact: U.S. agencies involved with SPP regularly update and consult with members of Congress on our efforts and plans. Myth: The SPP infringes on the sovereignty of the United States. Fact: The SPP respects and leaves the unique cultural and legal framework of each of the three countries intact. Nothing in the SPP undermines the U.S. Constitution. In no way does the SPP infringe upon the sovereignty of the United States. Myth: The SPP is illegal and violates the Constitution. Fact: The SPP is legal and in no way violates the Constitution or affects the legal authorities of the participating executive agencies. Indeed, the SPP is an opportunity for the governments of the United States, Canada, and Mexico to discuss common goals and identify ways to enhance each nation¡¯s security and prosperity. If an action is identified, U.S. federal agencies can only operate within U.S. law to address these issues. The Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security coordinate the efforts of the agencies responsible for the various initiatives under the prosperity and security pillars of the SPP. If an agency were to decide a regulatory change is desirable through the cooperative efforts of SPP, that agency is required to conform to all existing U.S. laws and administrative procedures, including an opportunity to comment. Myth: The U.S section of the SPP is headed by the Department of Commerce. Fact: The SPP is a White House-driven initiative. In the United States, the Department of Commerce coordinates the ¡®Prosperity¡¯ component, while the Department of Homeland Security coordinates the ¡®Security¡¯ component. The Department of State ensures the two components are coordinated and are consistent with U.S. foreign policy. Myth: The U.S. Government, working though the SPP, has a secret plan to build a "NAFTA Super Highway." Fact: The U.S. government is not planning a NAFTA Super Highway. The U.S. government does not have the authority to designate any highway as a NAFTA Super Highway, nor has it sought such authority, nor is it planning to seek such authority. There are private and state level interests planning highway projects which they themselves describe as "NAFTA Corridors," but these are not Federally-driven initiatives, and they are not a part of the SPP. Myth: The U.S. Government, through the Department of Transportation, is funding secretive highway projects to become part of a ¡°NAFTA Super Highway¡±. Fact: Many States in the American Midwest are proposing or undertaking highway projects to improve or build roads as Federal-aid and State or private sector revenue becomes available. All projects involving Federal-aid funds or approvals are subject to normal Federal-aid requirements, such as review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including public involvement. This public involvement, the common thread among all these activities, makes them anything but ¡°secret.¡± In addition, Congress directs Department of Transportation funding for specific highway projects. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will continue to cooperate with the State transportation departments as they build and upgrade highways to meet the needs of the 21st century. Rather than evidence of a secret plan to create a NAFTA Super Highway that would undermine our national sovereignty, the FHWA¡¯s efforts are a routine part of cooperation with all the State transportation departments to improve the Nation¡¯s highways. Myth: U.S. Government officials sponsored a secret SPP planning meeting in Banff, Alberta in September 2006. Fact: The U.S. Government did not sponsor the meeting in Banff. The North American Forum, a private initiative that is separate from the U.S. Government, hosted the September 12-14, 2006 conference ¡°Continental Prosperity in the New Security Environment.¡± Academics, businesspersons, private citizens, and government officials from the U.S., Mexican, and Canadian governments attended the conference. The North American Forum is not a product of the SPP. Myth: The SPP will cost U.S. taxpayers money. Fact: The SPP is being implemented with existing budget resources. Over the long-term, it will save U.S. taxpayers money by cutting through costly red tape and reducing redundant paperwork. This initiative will benefit the taxpayers through economic gain and increased security, thereby enhancing the competitiveness and quality of life in our countries. Myth: The working groups and SPP documents are a secret and not available to the public. Fact: The SPP¡¯s initiatives and milestones with timelines can be found by clicking the Report to Leaders link at www.spp.gov. The Web site contains a section to enable interested persons to provide input directly to the various working groups. Myth: The SPP seeks to lower U.S. standards through a regulatory cooperation framework. Fact: The framework will support and enhance cooperation and encourage the compatibility of regulations among the three partners while maintaining high standards of health and safety. Any regulatory changes will require agencies to conform to all U.S. administrative procedures, including an opportunity to comment. Enhanced cooperation in this area will provide consumers with more affordable, safer, and more diversified and innovative products. Myth: The SPP is meant to deal with immigration reform and trade disputes. Fact: Immigration reform is a legislative matter currently being debated in Congress and is not being dealt with in the SPP. Likewise, trade disputes between the United States, Canada, and Mexico are resolved in the NAFTA and WTO mechanisms and not the SPP. Myth: The SPP will result in the loss of American jobs. Fact: The SPP seeks to create jobs by reducing transaction costs and unnecessary burdens for U.S. companies, which will bolster the competitiveness of our firms globally. These efforts will help U.S. manufacturers, spur job creation, and benefit consumers. Myth: The SPP will harm our quality of life. Fact: The SPP improves the safety and well-being of Americans. It builds on efforts to protect our environment, improves our ability to combat infectious diseases, such as avian influenza, and ensures our food supply is safe through the exchange of information and cooperation ©¤ improving the quality of life for U.S. citizens. Americans enjoy world class living standards because we are engaged with the world. Myth: The SPP creates a NAFTA-plus legal status between the three countries. Fact: The SPP does not seek to rewrite or renegotiate NAFTA. It creates no NAFTA-plus legal status.  State Department seal by Wikipedia VIDEO El Universal has no official political affilation and is the most read newspaper in Mexico.
Amb. Patricia Cantellano photo by Wikipedia Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit charity. La canciller Patricia Espinosa Cantellano se reunirá este martes en Washington, Estados Unidos, con sus homólogos de esa nación, Condoleezza Rice y de Canadá, Maxime Bernier, informó la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE). Este encuentro es preparatorio a la Cumbre de los líderes de la Alianza para la Seguridad y Prosperidad de América de Norte (ASPAN) , en Nuevo Orleans, a la que asistirán los presidentes Felipe Calderón, de México, y George W. Bush, de Estados Unidos, así como el Primer Ministro canadiense, Stephen Harper, los próximos 21 y 22 de abril. © Queda expresamente prohibida la republicación, parcial o total, de todos los contenidos de EL UNIVERSAL
The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) is an initiative among the United States, Canada, and Mexico to increase security and to enhance prosperity among the three countries through greater cooperation. The SPP is based on the principle that our prosperity is dependent on our security and recognizes that our three great nations share a belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and strong democratic institutions. The SPP outlines a comprehensive agenda for cooperation among our three countries while respecting the sovereignty and unique cultural heritage of each nation. The SPP provides a vehicle by which the United States, Canada, and Mexico can identify and resolve unnecessary obstacles to trade and it provides a means to improve our response to emergencies and increase security, thus benefiting and protecting Americans. 20-21 August 07 23 February 07 30-31 March 06 27 June 05 23 March 05 The Critics' CornerThe Militarization and Annexation of North AmericaThe Centre for Research on Globalisation (CRG) is an independent research and media group of writers, scholars, journalists and activists. The CRG is based in Montreal. It is a registered non profit organization in the province of Quebec, Canada. In addition to the Global Research website, the Centre is involved in book publishing and educational outreach activities including the organization of public conferences and lectures. The Centre also acts as a think tank on crucial international and geopolitical issues. |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 12 April 2008 15:27 |
