The Secretary General of Unasur

Early Alert Report: UNASUR Secretary General Selection – March 2011

Prepared: March, 2011

Author: Ceprode.es

Extraordinary Meeting of UNASUR Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs

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CEPRODE-UNASUR-2011.pdf

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Document Overview

The attached document is an internal early warning communication from the General Secretariat of UNASUR, dated March 1, 2011. It addresses upcoming events, agenda items, candidate details, and political dynamics surrounding the Extraordinary Meeting of the UNASUR Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Quito, Ecuador, scheduled for March 11, 2011.

Key Facts

• Event: Extraordinary Meeting of UNASUR Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs

• Date of Meeting: March 11, 2011

• Location: Quito, Ecuador

• Origin of Alert: Secretariat Pro Tempore, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, Communication N° 006/02/2011 GY (dated February 21, 2011)

Main Agenda Items

1. Entry Into Force of UNASUR Constitutive Treaty

2. Designation of the UNASUR Secretary General

3. Presentation of Site Selection and Project Plan for UNASUR's Main Headquarters

Candidates for UNASUR Secretary General

Shortlist reduced officially to two candidates:

• Ali Rodríguez Araque (Venezuela)

  • Former Secretary General of OPEC

  • Has played a key role as Minister of Energy in Argentine-Venezuelan cooperation covering energy, agriculture, industry, and finance

  • Endorsed by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro

• María Emma Mejía (Colombia)

Political Dynamics & Power Correlation

• Support:

  • Brazil: President Dilma Rouseff is inclined to support Ali Rodríguez.

  • Argentina: President Cristina Kirchner also aligns with support for Rodríguez.

  • Meeting at the end of January in Argentina: Initial coincidence in mutual support by Brazil and Argentina for Rodríguez.

    
    

• Resistance/Opposition:

  • Colombia: Shows resistance to Rodríguez’s candidacy.

  • Chile: Also resistant to Rodríguez’s appointment.

    
    

• Doubtful Positions:

  • Peru: Displayed initial support for Rodríguez but now reportedly in doubt.

  
  

• Mediation/Consensus Solutions:

  • In the event of no consensus, Brazilian President advisor Marco Aurelio García and Foreign Minister Patriota have proposed a compromise arrangement:

    
    

    • Split term formula: 2 years for Rodríguez and 2 years for Mejía.

    • Alternatively: 1 year for Rodríguez followed by 1 year for Mejía.

Context and References

• Communication mentions confirmation of Rodríguez’s candidacy in Buenos Aires during the inauguration of Casa Patria Grande President Néstor Kirchner.

• Rodríguez credited as a close friend and collaborator of Kirchner.

Scenarios

Although the document references “Scenarios,” no detailed breakdown is provided within the visible text. The point appears to be further elaborated, potentially in additional sections, but not included in the extracted content.

Summary Table

Topic	Details
Event	Extraordinary Meeting of UNASUR Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Date	March 11, 2011
Location	Quito, Ecuador
Main Agenda	- UNASUR Treaty Entry in Force - Secretary General Designation - HQ Project Plan
Secretary General Candidates	1. Ali Rodríguez Araque (Venezuela) 2. María Emma Mejía (Colombia)
Brazil & Argentina Position	Support Ali Rodríguez
Colombia & Chile Position	Resistant to Rodríguez’s candidacy
Peru Position	Initially supported Rodríguez; now undecided
Consensus Formula Proposed	Term split: Rodriguez/Mejía (2/2 years, or 1/1 year)

Additional Notes

• The underlying political negotiations demonstrate fragility, with Brazil and Argentina leaning towards Venezuela’s candidate, while Colombia, Chile, and possibly Peru present obstacles.

• The risk of deadlock appears mitigated by split-term proposals but underscores the need for diplomatic consensus-building.

End of Report.

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