20/09/2012
Aznar, at the launch of the FAES report on Latin America, in Guatemala "Against criminality, as against terrorism, we must persevere with determination along a straight road" "Security is an absolute precondition for freedom and, therefore, also for prosperity" "The road to progress is not established by populism or protectionism, but by structural reforms and openness" He encourages Latin America to "persevere with austerity, flexibility and reforms, in the economic field, and with democracy, institutions and leadership, in the political sphere" "Let us advance building open societies at both sides of the Atlantic and make the West become a synonym of freedom, security and prosperity" "Latin America has the opportunity of consolidating a thriving future and of playing a main role in an increasingly open and competitive world" M?xico DF.- Meeting with Felipe Calder?n and the next day with the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, COMEXI Opening session of the FAES Campus Peru on Monday 24 in Lima Madrid, 20.09.12.- The former Prime Minister and president of FAES Foundation, Jos? Mar?a Aznar has launched that FAES report "Latin America: An Agenda for Freedom 2012" in Guatemala city, at the closing session of the first FAES Campus Central America & the Caribbeancelebrated at the renowned university Francisco Marroqu?n. Aznar has reflected upon the insecurity situation in Central America and its corrosive effect on the State and its institutions. On this issue, he assured that "against criminality, as against terrorism, there are no magic potions or easy solutions: we must persevere, with courage and determination, along a straight road. That road is the road which leads to strengthening democratic institutions and to using, free of doubt or hesitation, all instruments of the Rule of Law". Aznar, who's traveling to M?xico City today to meet with president Felipe Calder?n and to participate tomorrow in an event at the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, COMEXI, has assured that the most important thing to fight against crime, in any of its manifestations, is determination. In his opinion, "security is an absolute precondition for freedom and, therefore, also for prosperity", because without security there's no social development or economic progress. Let us fight against crime to attack poverty. Let us do it to make our societies areas of opportunity and improvement. Instead of stating without hesitation that there's violence because there's poverty, let us start thinking that violence is a determining factor of poverty; one the greatest impediments to prosperity, he asked. Aznar insisted that strengthening democratic institutions and the Rule of Law must be one the major priorities of Central America, therefore a great action programme is needed, a programme which springs from the unequivocal will to combat crime and which addresses all its aspects with sensitivity and firmness. According to the president of FAES, the Rule of Law is necessary. In other words, a Rule of Law capable of fulfilling its essential responsibility of guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of citizens, a Rule of Law having legitimacy and means. And that entails having good laws, and enforcing them. REFORMS AND OPENNNESS Upon his address at Francisco Marroqu?n University, from which he has been awarded an honorary doctorate, Aznar also remarked that "the road to progress is not established by populism or protectionism, but by structural reforms and openness". He celebrated that Latin America today enjoys a broad and growing consensus around the idea that the model of representative democracy and market economy is the best: the most effective to generate opportunities and consolidate progress. The regimes of the so-called '21st Century Socialism' are becoming increasingly isolated while their influence continues to decline in the region, he said. In his opinion, Latin America has an expanding middle class and can proudly say that it has overcome the international financial crisis before, and in a better condition, than the rest of the world. Latin America stands before an extraordinary opportunity today, probably the best it has ever had, to secure a thriving future and play a main role in an increasingly open and competitive world, he added. Aznar has nevertheless stated that Latin America must persevere every day in the same direction, without hesitation, pauses or distractions. With austerity, flexibility and reforms, in the economic field. And with democratic commitment, solid institutions and determined leadership, in the political sphere. In his opinion, that's one of the main lessons that the crisis in Europe can offer to any country or region of the world". THE WEST, SYNONYM OF FREEDOM Aznar also reminded everyone that the impact of the first version of the report 'Latin America: An Agenda for Freedom', first published by FAES in 2007, exceeded our best expectations and nurtured debate in scholar and political forums; it inspired electoral programmes and government policies, and became a reference for those of us who seek a democratic, stable, prosperous Latin America fully committed to western values. "Let us advance building open societies at both sides of the Atlantic and make the West become a synonym of freedom, security and prosperity" he encouraged. MEXICO Aznar has also travelled to Mexico City (September 20) where he will meet with the president, Felipe Calder?n. He will launch the report 'Latin America' on Friday 21 at an event organised with the Mexican Council on Foreign Relation, COMEXI, comprised by former ministers of foreign affairs, diplomats and businessmen. The event will take place at Mexico City"s JW Marriott hotel (c/ Andr?s Bello, 29) at 2:00 pm (local time). PER? As a final stop in this tour, Aznar will travel to Lima on Monday, Spetember 24, to open the first edition of the FAES Campus Peru "Political Stability and Freedom: Keys to Prosperity", which will be celebrated at San Ignacio de Loyola University (Av. La Fontana, 550 ?" Distrito de La Molina) at 12:30 am. Aznar will also take the opportunity, during the opening session, to launch the FAES strategic report, _Latin America: An Agenda for Freedom 2012_ with the vice-president of the Republic of Peru, Marisol Espinoza Cruz, and the founding president of San Ignacio de Loyola University, Ra?l D?ez Canseco.