[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SOUTH AMERICA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, earlier this month,I led a delegation 
to South America to review security, trade, and foreign assistance 
issues. Joining me were Senators Martinez, Burr, and Thune. With the 
exception of my friend from Florida, this was the first visit to 
Brazil, Argentina, and Chile for my colleagues and me. In short, this 
is a region full of promise--and problems.
  Let me begin my remarks with a word of appreciation to the 
Governments of Brazil, Argentina and Chile for their excellent 
cooperation on security matters, including countering terrorism and 
narcotics. These are shared threats and pose myriad challenges, whether 
in the case of Brazil's massive border--particularly with Colombia and 
Venezuela--the notorious tri-border area--TBA--of Brazil, Argentina, 
and Paraguay, or vicious terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish 
interests in Buenos Aires in the 1990s. Given the unequivocal support 
for indigenous coca growers by Bolivia's new President, Evo Morales, I 
encourage the State Department to further strengthen cooperation on 
security matters with these countries in the months and years ahead.
  Brazil, Argentina and Chile also deserve recognition for their 
participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions, particularly in 
Haiti. While not always popular with domestic constituencies, their 
respective contributions provide critical support for international 
efforts to secure stability in the region. Peacekeeping is not without 
risks, and I condemn attacks against peacekeepers in Haiti, including 
the recent incident in the Cite Soleil district of Port-au-Prince that 
killed two Jordanian nationals.
  Brazil, Argentina and Chile should be recognized for their support of 
democracy and human rights throughout the region. While we did not see 
eye-to-eye on every issue, it is clear everyone is watching Bolivia and 
Venezuela closely. In one meeting in Brasilia, Senator Martinez 
counseled that in determining the new agenda of President Morales, the 
region would be wise to ``trust but verify.'' This is a wise maxim 
whether assessing coca cultivation or threats to nationalize the energy 
sector in Bolivia, or professed support for democracy and justice in 
Chavez's Venezuela.
  In general, there is significant room for improvement in U.S. trade 
relations with Brazil and Argentina, particularly regarding 
intellectual property rights and demonstrable support for the free 
trade area of the Americas negotiation. Through meetings with business 
leaders in Brazil and Argentina, the delegation heard first hand many 
of the challenges facing the business community in both countries. 
President Kirchner would be wise to listen to the concerns of 
international companies doing business in the region regarding price 
controls and the harassment and intimidation of business leaders.
  As one businessman familiar with Argentina's investment climate 
quipped, ``If you want to make a small fortune in Argentina, go there 
with a big one.'' The challenge for President Kirchner is to maintain 
expansion of Argentina's economy by attracting investment and capital--
and not aiding in its flight.
  Let me close with a word or two on Chile, a country clearly committed 
to democracy, the rule of law and free trade. Our delegation was 
heartened by the views of our Chilean friends and U.S. country team 
that regardless of the outcome of the January 15 elections, won by 
Michelle Bachelet, democracy was alive and well in Chile, and that our 
bilateral relationship would remain strong. I am pleased our bilateral 
free trade agreement, FTA, with Chile has been beneficial to both U.S. 
and Chilean businesses, with exports boosted by an estimated 40 percent 
since the FTA's implementation in January 2004. Still, there is room 
for improvement, and I encourage continued engagement on intellectual 
property rights issues. Ambassador Craig Kelly and his team are doing a 
terrific job in Santiago, and I have every confidence that under his 
capable leadership relations will continue to be vibrant and strong.
  Mr. President, I have shared a few, brief observations of this trip, 
but I hope Senator Martinez,--who has much experience in this part of 
the world, will speak to this body on his views of the region and, in 
particular, the challenges to U.S. policy and business interests posed 
by Presidents Chavez of Venezuela, Morales of Bolivia, and Castro of 
Cuba. There is much going on in South America deserving of the Senate's 
close scrutiny.

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