Important Talks for Clinton visit to Latin America

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton flew into Lima last Sunday to start talks with various leaders in Latin America on topics such as last year’s coup in Honduras, immigration policy, security issues and talks about the issues concerning Iran and other Middle East countries.  This is not Clintons first visit to Latin America as the Secretary of State and with issues developing all the time in this area of the world is doubtful this will be her last.

Clinton has a very full schedule during this trip which included meetings in many of the larger south American countries including Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.  America’s support of these countries and financial aid are related to much of the discussions with these countries.

One issue that has been ever present during this trip is the issue of allowing Honduras to rejoin the regional block after their recent coup.  The US is arguing that Honduras be allowed back into the organisation with the current president coming to power after the latest elections.  Many countries including Brazil and Nicaragua oppose this move by the US and support a reinstatement of the oust president who is now in exile from the country.

There are many other items on the agenda which involve the US and countries in Latin America which include the new immigration laws in Arizona, the US gaining support for new UN penalties on Iran over its nuclear program, the ever present drug trade that comes from countries in this area of the world and discussion over growing issues of endemic crime and violence.

Although not an official agenda item the new immigration laws in Arizona have caused some concerns to the countries of people who move to the US for work.  Latin America sees these new laws as racial profiling and the laws also make it illegal for immigrants that are not in citizens of the US to solicit work.  There is some support for this new law even though the US President conceded that the law is “poorly conceived” and “not the right way to go”.

One of the main agenda items is for the US to gain support from these countries over the UN penalties for Iran over there nuclear program.  Backing by countries in Latin America would be a boost for the US and the UN as Brazil and Turkey had just recently worked together with Iran the put in place agreements to avoid new penalties.