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LATIN AMERICAN TODAY

The Dialogue in the Current
American Context: Colombia,
Cuba, United States and Venezuela
Mitchel J. Ovalle R.
Attorney and political scientist
Political analyst
Colombia

T

he reestablishment of diplomatic
relations between Cuba and the
United States has generated a new
climate on the American continent, and
deepened the good will of most governments. These have turned to dialogue as a
way to foment reconciliation, establish
peace and construct an environment of mutual aid that can allow the improvement of
their people’s living conditions. Unfortunately, the exception to this rule has been
the Venezuelan government.

also by considering the joy that characterizes its people’s identity.
The greatest hope rests with the lifting of
the commercial, economic and financial
embargo imposed on Cuba by the United
States since 1962. According to President
Barack Obama’s announcement last December, his principal purpose “to fraternize
and empower Cuban people.” This is a no ble intention with multiple, complicating
factors that should be clearly discussed and
agreed upon among representatives of both
governments. Civil society, too, should be
included throughout this process: it would
end up being the best possible path to follow: a dialogue.

In just a few months, the scene has become
pretty positive, and the role that Cuba has
been assuming on the international scene
has allowed it to change the pessimistic
perception for which others have characterized the island for decades. If not, just ask
the tourists who now see the island as their
preferred destination, or the businessmen,
with their grand vision to make their investments there, in the Caribbean’s “great”
paradise. These are just a few examples.
Cuba is beginning a rebirth through the
hope of its people who have so much to
give the world; the greatness of its people
cannot be measured solely by talent, but

“Dialogue” is precisely the word that is so
often used, but that also frequently seems
misunderstood. For this reason, it would be
important to highlight a few notions concerning this concept henceforth, given that
its natural interpretation is reflected in a
number of situations relevant right now to
the Latin American context.

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