Andean-U.S. Dialogue Forum Final Report February 7, 2013 Table of Contents Foreword ......................................................................................................................................... 1 List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4 1 The need for civil society dialogue between the Andean countries and the United States: regional context ....................................................................................................................... 5 2 Designing a multi-country dialogue initiative ......................................................................... 7 2.1 Ensuring political will: President Carter’s visit to the Andean region ............................. 7 2.2 Project design ................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.1 Implementation mechanisms .................................................................................... 9 2.2.2 Identifying Forum members ................................................................................... 10 2.2.3 Project structure and management .......................................................................... 10 3 Promoting Mutual Understanding and Creating Innovative Policy Proposals: Efforts Undertaken by the Forum ...................................................................................................... 12 3.1 Advancing policy proposals, building trust and deepening mutual understanding: dialogue sessions between Forum members .................................................................. 12 3.2 Promoting understanding of the diversity of the Andean region: country visits by U.S. members ......................................................................................................................... 17 3.3 Toward a common agenda between the Andean countries and the United States ......... 21 3.4 Encouraging more balanced reporting through media dialogues: Colombia-Venezuela- United States .................................................................................................................. 29 3.5 Contributing to the regional debate on alternatives to drug policy and organized crime ........................................................................................................................................ 34 3.6 Inclusive development and trade: targeted advocacy efforts by Forum members ......... 36 3.7 Different conceptualizations of democracy as an obstacle to cooperation .................... 37 4 Findings from the Andean-U.S. Dialogue Forum ................................................................. 39 4.1 Highlights of the results from the Andean-U.S. Dialogue Forum ................................. 39 4.2 Lessons learned from the Andean-U.S. Dialogue Forum .............................................. 42 5 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 46 Annexes......................................................................................................................................... 47 Annex A: List of members of the Andean – U.S. Dialogue Forum .......................................... 47 Annex B: Biographies of members of the Andean – U.S. Dialogue Forum ............................. 49 Annex C: Working groups of the Andean-U.S. Dialogue Forum ............................................. 56 Annex D. Declaration on drug policy in the Andean region ..................................................... 58 i Annex E. Selection of articles resulting from Andean country visits ....................................... 61 Annex F. Letter requesting extension of the ATPDEA and list of recipients ........................... 68 Annex G. Selection of articles covering the Common Agenda Report .................................... 70 Annex H. Summary of content analysis .................................................................................... 81 Annex I. Press release from bilateral media dialogue participants ........................................... 94 Annex J: Op-Ed by President Jimmy Carter: “Call Off the Global Drug War” ....................... 95 Annex K. Press release for launch of drug policy report .......................................................... 97 Annex L. Visions of democracy—notes for discussion ............................................................ 99 Annex M: Selection of articles from bilateral and trilateral media dialogues ........................ 102 ii Foreword The Andean-U.S. Dialogue Forum, formed in 2010 in a joint effort by The Carter Center and International IDEA, aimed to create a space for prominent citizens to address issues of common concern through dialogue and exchange of ideas. These influential members of civil society from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the United States and Venezuela share a common concern for human welfare and the prosperity of the region. Members of the Forum were convinced that governments alone cannot solve the problems that the countries face. In this sense, the Andean-US Dialogue Forum supported the vital role of civil society in overcoming simplified stereotypes and generating creative and sustainable solutions to shared problems. The members from the six countries came together believing that communication, empathy, and understanding have been the key to constructive and cooperative relationships. Absence of these elements has led to disputes, conflicts and even war. Among Andean countries and in their dealings with the United States, recent years have seen conflicts, broken diplomatic relations, and overheated rhetoric distorting reality and creating public misperception. Over eighteen months, Forum members worked to increase mutual understanding, create collaborative initiatives and promote cooperation in pressing areas of concern, such as drug policy, media polarization and inclusive economic development. Under the Forum umbrella, dialogue sessions have been held in Atlanta, Lima and Washington, D.C.; U.S. members have visited each Andean country to broaden their awareness of each country’s unique political, economic, and social situation; Colombian, Venezuelan and U.S. directors, editors, and journalists have reached a deeper understanding of how media coverage of bilateral agendas influence relations between the countries; and recommendations toward a common agenda between the Andean countries and the United States have been shared with key actors in all six countries. This final report intends to document and share the experience of the Andean – U.S. Dialogue Forum. We would also like to thank the numerous persons in the six countries who have contributed to the success of this initiative. Our first project manager, Santiago Mariani, worked tirelessly to coordinate country teams in six countries. We appreciate his enthusiasm and passion for improving relations among us all. Our second project manager, Karin Andersson, ably organized our efforts, drafted eloquent reports and impressed us all with her professionalism and gentle prodding to ensure we all worked harmoniously and produced results. Francisco Diez contributed to the original idea for the project and capably facilitated our early meetings with his own creativity and passion. Country coordinators and advisors Alejandro Nató, José María Paz, Dolores Padilla, Camila Lanusse, Oscar Sánchez, Héctor Vanolli and Kelly McBride were the ones holding us together in each country. Socorro Ramírez provided her unending energy and creativity as strategic advisor to the project. The support of President Enrique García and Ana María Sanjuán of the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) were critical to the success of the project. Finally we thank all of the members of the Forum for their insights, ideas and 1 willingness to embark on this adventure and contribute to a much deeper understanding among us all. Jennifer McCoy Kristen Sample Director, Americas Program Head of Mission, Andean Region The Carter Center International IDEA Atlanta Lima 2 List of Acronyms ATPDEA Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act CAF Andean Development Corporation (Corporación Andina de Fomento) CAN Andean Community of Nations (Comunidad Andina de Naciones) DEVIDA National Commission on Development and Life without Drugs of Peru (Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo y Vida sin Drogas, Perú) EU European Union FARC Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) FLACSO Latin American Faculty for Social Sciences (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales) FTA Free Trade Agreement IDB Inter-American Development Bank IDEA International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance IEP Institute of Peruvian Studies NGO Non-governmental Organization OAS Organization of American States TCC The Carter Center UMSA Universidad Mayor de San Andrés UNASUR Union of South American Nations (Unión de Naciones Suramericanas) UNDP United Nations Development Program USAID United States Agency for International Development VTV Venezuelan Television (Venezolana de Televisión) WOLA Washington Office on Latin America 3 Introduction This final report summarizes the most relevant aspects of