By Dalia Acosta
HAVANA, Nov 17 1997 (IPS)

The Graham Amendment, which describes Cuba as a threat to U.S. security, has become a new source of concern in Latin America, according to the Parlatino’s Political Affairs Commission.

A statement by Parlatino (Latin American Parliament), which met in Havana Nov. 13-15, says the Graham Amendment – part of a defence budget bill awaiting the signature of President Bill Clinton – “establishes the legal framework for an eventual attack on Cuba.”

The declaration underlines that the concern of the members of the Political Affairs Commission arises from the bill’s Cold War language.

“We have always kept careful watch against attacks on national sovereignty. For that reason we have reiteratedly criticised the U.S. embargo against Cuba and the Helms-Burton Act” which stiffens the embargo, said the executive secretary of Parlatino, Colombian Senator Humberto Pelaez.

More than 150 legislators from 15 countries met mainly behind closed doors last week in seven permanent Parlatino commissions – health, tourism, energy and mines, emerging economies, youth, political affairs and labour and social security.

The statement condemning the Graham Amendment was released after the Parlatino representatives met with Cuban President Fidel Castro Friday evening.

The Political Affairs Commission also stated its opposition to an arms race in Latin America as well as Washington’s decision to permit sales of sophisticated weapons to Latin America.

The commission expressed its support for accords that emerged from the Central American Parliament, the Parliamentary Conference of the Americas and the Parlatino consultative council, which criticised the US decision arguing that it would affect peace in the region.

It also urged presidents in Latin America not to approve purchases of advanced weapons, but to favour instead educational and social plans and funding to alleviate poverty.

The permanent commissions on health, labour and social security affairs and youth matters focused on social problems in the region.

The commission on youth urged changes in educational systems guaranteeing a broad-based education, while suggesting legislation guaranteeing the right of young people to jobs, training and fair wages.

Addressing the problem of malnutrition in Latin America, the parliamentarians recommended access to low-cost basic food products and programmes to promote breast-feeding and adequate dietary habits.

“Children and young people must be treated as subjects with rights,” not only as “objects of policies,” said Deputy Gabriel Courtoisie of Uruguay’s New Space party.

“It is urgently necessary for us to put forth more in-depth proposals in order to make it clear that Parlatino has the capacity to outline concrete measures, and not only to criticise,” said Brazilian Socialist Party Deputy Almino Affonso, the president of the labour and social security commission.

The commission expressed its opposition to economic deregulation, corruption and crises of governmental representation, which it described as processes that generated unemployment in Latin America.

It also criticised the prevailing neo-liberal orthodoxy in the region, which it said has fuelled both unemployment and illegal labour markets like prostitution, smuggling and gambling.

Based on its analysis of “globalisation and employment,” the commission proposed job policies specifically focused on youth and vulnerable sectors, and educational programmes that gave rise to “knowledge workers.”

The health commission, meanwhile, advocated legislation and a sociocultural framework favouring AIDS prevention in the region.

The energy and mines commission supported energy integration in the region by backing legislation that would guarantee a homogeneous legal framework, extended a standing invitation to its sessions to the Latin American Energy Organisation, and urged information-sharing on energy policies among Parlatino member states.

Cuban Deputy Osvaldo Martinez said the commission on emerging economies analysed integration experiences in Latin America as a route to finding solutions to the problems plaguing the region.

Although the tourism commission failed in its search for a framework law on development of the sector, it did agree on an inter-parliamentary conference on tourism, to be held next year in Havana.

Participants in the commission meetings said that although Parlatino suggestions were not binding, follow-up of the forum’s analyses and recommendations was needed. “Governments are paying increasing attention to Parlatino proposals,” said Argentine Deputy Luis Rubeo, who added that international recognition of the regional forum had grown.

The Parlatino sits on the United Nations, the World Interparliamentary Union and the Organisation of American States, and has signed around 40 cooperation agreements.

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