Weekly Roundup: U.S.-Venezuela Ties, Peru's New Military Bases, Latino Voter Turnout

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Chile to Join U.S. Visa Waiver Program

Chilean President Sebastian Piñera visited Washington this week as part of a tour that also includes stops in Canada, El Salvador, and Panama. The leader met with U.S. President Barack Obama, as well as Secretary of State John Kerry to talk trade. During a DC press conference on June 4, Piñera announced that Chile will join the United States’ Visa Waiver Program, eliminating visa requirements for Chilean citizens who wish to visit the United States for up to 90 days. Chile will become the only Latin American country in the program.

U.S.-Venezuela Meeting: A Chance for Improved Relations?

While in Guatemala for the Organization of American States’ General Assembly from June 4 to 6, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held an unexpected meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elías Jaua. It is believed to be the first high-level discussion between Venezuela and the United States since President Barack Obama spoke with late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, at the 2009 Summit of the Americas. Kerry said he hoped the two countries could quickly appoint ambassadors, and noted Venezuela had agreed to ongoing high-level dialogue. The talk took place the same day the Venezuelan government freed U.S. filmmaker Timothy Tracy. Accused of espionage, Tracy was arrested in Caracas in April.

OAS General Assembly: New IACHR Seats Filled, but No Consensus on Drugs

On June 6, the Organization of American States’ General Assembly held in Guatemala ended without a consensus on drug policy, the core of discussions at the summit. Still, the meeting’s final declaration calls for an ongoing consultation process on these policies. http://scm.oas.org/ag/documentos/ The summit concluded with a vote on three of seven spots on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Mexican IACHR President José de Jesús Orozco was reelected, and Brazilian candidate Paulo de Tarso Vannuchi and U.S. candidate James Cavallaro were also chosen to be part of the commission. Ecuadoran candidate Erick Roberts Garces—who some worried would try to weaken the Commission—did not gain enough votes to earn a spot.

New U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Nominated

On June 5, Folha de São Paulo reported that U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Liliana Ayalde was nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to Brazil. The career diplomat—who is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish—will replace Ambassador Thomas Shannon, expected to leave his post later this year.

Costa Rica and Colombia on Path to Join OECD

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced during its ministerial council meeting on May 30 that it will begin negotiating membership with Colombia and will open accession talks with Costa Rica in 2015. Chile and Mexico are currently the only two Latin American countries that are members of the organization.

Colombia’s Santos Visits UK, Israel

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos began an international tour on June 7, heading first to the United Kingdom. In London, he expressed optimism about Colombia’s peace process, saying he believes an accord is possible this year. He then visits Israel for two days, and will also meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Peru Plans Construction of 10 New Military Bases

On June 6, Peruvian Minister of Defense Pedro Cateriano announced the government will build 10 counterterrorism bases in the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers, reports El Comercio. The area is known for both Shining Path guerrilla activity as well as drug trafficking. Cateriano noted that the military may also import new equipment for the bases from Canada.

Study: Latino Voter Participation Lags behind Eligibility Rates

Despite a record of turnout of 11.2 million Latino voters during the 2012 presidential election, only 48 percent of eligible Hispanic voters turned out at the polls, a June 3 study from Pew Research Hispanic Center finds. The number of eligible Latino voters grew 19 percent between 2008 and 2012, but the number of those who voted only increased 15 percent over the same period. The study also indicates that Latinos with the highest turn-out rates were those with a college degree and of Cuban origin. Less than 37 percent of voters ages 18 to 29 cast their ballots. This week, a study released by Latino Decisions looked at an issue that will be important in upcoming elections. The poll found that 78 percent of eligible Latino voters believe it is very or extremely important for Congress to pass an immigration bill with a path to citizenship in 2013.

Peña Nieto: No FTA with China for Now

Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled to Mexico this week, when he met with President Enrique Peña Nieto and signed numerous cooperation agreements on areas such as energy, mining, and infrastructure. While the two leaders decided to take steps to try to balance trade and expand commercial ties, Peña Nieto noted that a free-trade agreement with the Asian giant was not on the horizon.

A Look at Mexico’s Upcoming Local Elections

Mexico’s ADN Político offers an interactive explaining the country’s July 7 local elections in 14 states. It shows the number of seats in the running and which states will elect new governors and mayors. It also provides an overview of political parties in each state, as well as political alliances.

Interactive: Understanding Mexico City’s Aquifer

Following the discovery of a mile-deep aquifer in the Iztapalapa district of Mexico City, government officials are continuing to explore the aquifer’s size and water quality as a possible source of drinking water for the city. In an online interactive, El Universal explains the layers of the aquifer and water use within a global context. For example, in one section, a map shows that much of Mexico has less water available per person each year than Brazil, Colombia, or Chile.

U.S. Treasury Department Sanctions MS-13 Members

On June 5, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that it had sanctioned six leaders of the Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. The sanctions freeze the leaders’ assets, and will work as “a powerful tool … to further disrupt MS-13 financial networks and violent operations,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton. The group was classified as a transnational criminal organization by the Treasury in October 2012, becoming the first street gang to receive that designation.

Ríos Montt Trial Likely to Resume in 2014

The landmark genocide case against former General Jose Efrain Ríos Montt annulled by Guatemala’s Constitutional Court may be stalled until next year. The May 20 ruling voided part of the trial and the conviction, requiring proceedings to begin again. On June 4, the Constitutional Court transferred the case to the Court of High Risk B, which has at least 26 other trials lined up. As such, the court may not start hearings until April 2014.

DR Ex-President: Next OAS Leader?

Former Dominican President Leonel Fernández is considering a bid for secretary general of the Organization of the American States (OAS), reports Listin Diario. Chilean José Miguel Insulza currently holds the post, though his term ends in March 2015. Twenty-two of the 34 OAS member countries support Fernández’s candidacy. If elected, he would be the first Dominican to become OAS secretary general.