sela created
latin American Economicew scheme fot economic integration among Latin and Caribbean governments, was establishedinisterial meeting in Panama onhe process that led finally to its formal creation generated heightened sensitivity among the governments to each other's political need* as well as some new formulas lor regional
Headquarters of SELA will be Caracas, its secretary generalormer finance minister of Ecuador, and its starting administrative budget0 will derivearefully contrived dues-paying system based on ability to pay. SEIA was shapedairly loose federation with modeM long-range goals, minimal structure, and some concrete plans for joint enterprise.
The emergence of SELAorum forbusiness and technical exchange among members is largely the result of the resistanceloc of nations to the visionary and ideologically inclined motivations of its original promoters. The notion of SFLA was first advancedear ago bv mexican President Echeverria, morehetorical flourish thanonsidered idea. Venezuela's President Carlos Andresroponent of Latin unity, actively supported the concept. The highly nationalistic governments were attracted to the proposed organization by its exclusion of the US but inclusion of Cuba, and by the expectation of financial support Irom wealthy Venezuela. Brazil and several other countries feigned interest for the sake of latin unity but were exceedingly reluctant to let themselves be (rapped in yet another controversial Third-World association whose principal function might be lo rail against the US.
Rather than rolling with the political tide lhat had often swept them into unanimous positions and resolutions with which they (ellthe governments of Brazil, Uruguay,and others industriously participated In the negotiations preparatory to SELA's founding. They insisted on rules to prevent SELA's decisions from becoming obligatory, they demanded specific goals for the organization, and they offered various drafts of chatter language and development proposals. The candid exchange of views created an atmosphere of cooperation and positive thinking,hat the large majority of the members have come to view SELAusiness-like association for formulating regional strategy, setting up multinational corporations, funding regional uansportation andsystems, and other practical ventures.
The experience rs likely to attract the interest of the less assertive governments inore active role in regional affairs, for trie lighter weight pretenders to regional leadership, themay prompt some sober thoughts about (he wisdom of introducing confrontational issues into regional bodies in view of (he sharp political differences produced by the Echeverria-lopezand the unlooked for concern expressed by some countries over the appearance of antagonism toward the
us.
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