Guatemala in the UN Security Council?
Right now Guatemala is competing with Venezuela for a seat as a non-permanent member in the Security Council of the United Nations. It's a great opportunity, but...there's so many buts.
Guatemala is strongly supported by the US, and that immediately eliminates the votes of far too many countries.
Venezuela had been doing a pretty good job getting votes, Chávez traveled to Africa, and got a lot of votes right there. It has the support of many Southamerican countries (MERCOSUR plays a big part in that), China, Russia, all of the countries who think Guatemala will be useless if it gets the seat, since, "it'll do everything the US tells it to do and will always take it's side", like for instance, EVERY COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST (except Israel, of course). Ufff...
Guatemala named Gert Rosenthal Chancellor, a very prepared, experienced, known, and cunning person. He has done a very good job getting votes for Guatemala. That has helped Guatemala's candidature. Also, Chávez really hurt Venezuela's candidature when he talked in the UN Assembly and made some very subjective and radical statements about "the devil", "Mr. Evil", and something about a sulfur smell... Ufff...
Guatemala has the support of a most of the EU's countries, all of the countries of Central America (of course!) and many more. It has actually mantained an advantage over Venezuela every single time the Assembly has voted, but not big enough to get the seat. Guatemala would've gotten it already if it wasn't for the lack of support of the CARICOM (the Caribbean countries). This conflict between Guatemala and Belize (which is the main reason for this lack of support of the Caribbean countries) really needs to be resolved. Not just because of this, but because of so much more. Guatemala and Belize are neighbors and could achieve a lot by collaborating...it could be great for both countries, I think.
Ok...I guess every or most Guatemalans (or at least those who know or care) would like Guatemala to get the seat, but, why?
Guatemala has used some arguments to support it's candidature, like the fact that "we've reached peace after four decades of internal war", our support to the international peace keepers' projects in Haiti and Congo, and some others I can't remember.
I wonder why the fact that Guatemala is a multicultural country wasn't even mentioned: being in the SC means you have to be able to comprehend the complexity of diversity and work with it. Guatemala should be experienced in this aspect, after all, our population is integrated by four different ethnic groups (maya, ladino, garífuna, xinka), and 24 different languages are spoken...we SHOULD understand diversity and SHOULD be really good working with it...
...but (of course there's a but) we are not. I guess that's probably the reason why it wasn't mentioned, ha?
Anyways...I think this experience could definitely be a positive one for Guatemala. I do hope we get the opportunity. We'll see!
Guatemala is strongly supported by the US, and that immediately eliminates the votes of far too many countries.
Venezuela had been doing a pretty good job getting votes, Chávez traveled to Africa, and got a lot of votes right there. It has the support of many Southamerican countries (MERCOSUR plays a big part in that), China, Russia, all of the countries who think Guatemala will be useless if it gets the seat, since, "it'll do everything the US tells it to do and will always take it's side", like for instance, EVERY COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST (except Israel, of course). Ufff...
Guatemala named Gert Rosenthal Chancellor, a very prepared, experienced, known, and cunning person. He has done a very good job getting votes for Guatemala. That has helped Guatemala's candidature. Also, Chávez really hurt Venezuela's candidature when he talked in the UN Assembly and made some very subjective and radical statements about "the devil", "Mr. Evil", and something about a sulfur smell... Ufff...
Guatemala has the support of a most of the EU's countries, all of the countries of Central America (of course!) and many more. It has actually mantained an advantage over Venezuela every single time the Assembly has voted, but not big enough to get the seat. Guatemala would've gotten it already if it wasn't for the lack of support of the CARICOM (the Caribbean countries). This conflict between Guatemala and Belize (which is the main reason for this lack of support of the Caribbean countries) really needs to be resolved. Not just because of this, but because of so much more. Guatemala and Belize are neighbors and could achieve a lot by collaborating...it could be great for both countries, I think.
Ok...I guess every or most Guatemalans (or at least those who know or care) would like Guatemala to get the seat, but, why?
Guatemala has used some arguments to support it's candidature, like the fact that "we've reached peace after four decades of internal war", our support to the international peace keepers' projects in Haiti and Congo, and some others I can't remember.
I wonder why the fact that Guatemala is a multicultural country wasn't even mentioned: being in the SC means you have to be able to comprehend the complexity of diversity and work with it. Guatemala should be experienced in this aspect, after all, our population is integrated by four different ethnic groups (maya, ladino, garífuna, xinka), and 24 different languages are spoken...we SHOULD understand diversity and SHOULD be really good working with it...
...but (of course there's a but) we are not. I guess that's probably the reason why it wasn't mentioned, ha?
Anyways...I think this experience could definitely be a positive one for Guatemala. I do hope we get the opportunity. We'll see!
rocio - 19. Oct, 00:13
