Doctrines of Non-Intervention
Given that there is some overlap with this subject on Russia, and its on-again, off-again statements about non-intervention, I thought I would post the beginning of this translation we have featured over on Venezuela Report. Next time we see the Kremlin rush to protect the junta in Myanmar or the lovely leaders of Sudan from international criticism, perhaps some of this article may ring true.
It has been a frequent argument on this blog that foreign policies held by certain countries striving for “non-intervention” in global affairs are at odds with long terms interests as well as other stated goals of diplomacy. The case of Brazil is especially interesting, and as a rising economic power and regional player, the long-standing doctrine of non-intervention (which is irregularly broken, I should note) is currently receiving its hardest test as the Senate considers the potential entry of Venezuela to Mercosur. Not only has Venezuela become a serial violator of human rights, but neither have they taken any steps forward whatsoever on the reforms and conditions to prepare for entry. On this topic, there recently appeared a very interesting article by the well known columnist Sergio Leo in the leading Brazilian business newspaper VALOR, which quotes from an interview with Robert Amsterdam and raises the Eligio Cedeño case. The full article in Portuguese can be downloaded here.
Complex Geopolitics
Lula displays appreciation for Chavez, a foreign policy that observers classify as nonconfrontational
By Sergio Leo in Brasilia
VALOR
In order to defend the insertion of Venezuela in Mercosur – action which was criticized and threatened to be rejected by the Senate – an ambassador devoted two days to visit congressmen in Brasilia. What was unheard of, in the diplomat’s efforts to defend the Venezuelan, was his origin: he was not the ambassador of Venezuela in Brazil, but the office holder at the Brazilian embassy in the country presided by Hugo Chávez, Antônio Simões, who traveled to Brasília for the task. The senators were surprised – this is only an example of the Brazilian government’s effort to keep the relationship with the neighbors in good shape.
