|
Leaders of the Americas / Líderes de las Américas
Drug Prohibition in the Americas
Marcela Sanchez hosts Jorge Batlle,
President of Uruguay
Thursday, Mar. 15, 2001;
In recent months, Jorge Batlle has become the first head of state in the Western Hemisphere to advocate the legalization of now-illicit drugs. Asked by one interviewer how he would address Colombia's civil war, he replied, ''Legalize drugs and bring Colombia into NAFTA," the North American Free Trade Agreement.
|
| Jorge Batlle
|
As president of Uruguay, a country of 3.2 million people located between Argentina and Brazil, Batlle (pronounced BAH-zhay) has also made news by publicly embracing the families of the victims of the country's so-called dirty war against leftists in the 1970s and by seeking to reform Uruguay's welfare state.
Read the transcript below:
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Marcela Sanchez:
Welcome everybody. Today we are grateful to have President Batlle with us. Many of you are eager to hear from him particularly his views about the fight against drugs. But before we get into it, I am obliged to ask you Mr. President about the effect of your views on drug use in your country particularly among youth. This month’s U.S. State Department International Narcotics Control Strategy Report says that drug consumption is “slowly rising” in Uruguay. Would you agree?
Bienvenidos. Hoy agradecemos la participación del Presidente Batlle. Muchos de ustedes están ansiosos de conocer sus respuestas particularmente con relación a la guerra contra las drogas. Pero antes, me veo obligada a preguntar acerca de los efectos de sus puntos de vista en el consumo de drogas en su país, especialmente entre los jóvenes. El Informe del Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos sobre la Estrategia Internacional para el Control de Narcóticos de este mes afirma que el consumo de drogas esta “aumentando lentamente” en Uruguay. ¿Está usted de acuerdo?
Jorge Batlle: Muy buenas tardes estimada amiga Marcela Sanchez.
Aqui estamos para responder a las pregutnas de los lectores.
En cuanto a la pregunta que ma hace, debeo decirle que el Uruguay al igual que todos los paises, vive un proceso, por suerte en nuestro caso muy lento, de aumento del consumo de drogas.
Creemos que hemos mejorado muchisimo las tareas de control, pero de cualquier manera, nuestra forma de pensar sigue siendo la misma con respecto al fondo del asunto.
Washington, DC:
President Batlle,
Thanks you for taking your courageous position on our failed drug war. Have you experienced any backlash from the US government? If so, can you elaborate?
Jorge Batlle: No, we have not receiveid any backlash from the US government.
From somewhere in a country called América...:
Estimado Señor Presidente Batlle,
Are there other heads of state who have privately expressed agreement with your views on drug legalization, but have not said so publicly?
Do you expect any of them to make any public statements soon?
Fraternalmente,
Al Giordano
[EDITED]
Jorge Batlle: No mantuve contactos previos con ningun Jefe de Estado a proposito de este tema y, por cierto ninguno está obligado a referirse al punto.
Hickory, N.C.:
Many persons, and even a few politicians like New Mexico Gov. Gary E. Johnson, believe that the only way to significantly diminish the terrible problems caused by drugs is to legalize them -- especially non-addictive ones like marijuana.
Why do you suppose that our government suppresses this information?
What can you and like-minded people in this country do to end this insanity?
Thank you.
John Thomas
[EDITED]
Jorge Batlle: The only way to do it properly is discussing the whole thing.
Boston, Mass.:
Dear Mr. President,
Do you think the "war on drugs", as led by the West, has become too institutionalized for a radical alternative such as legalization to be considered? Can you speak about the power of interests which benefit from the current situation (from defense contractors to banks), and how these interests might fight any attempts at legalization?
Thank you for your courage and your time.
[EDITED]
Jorge Batlle: If this business is something around 600 billions dollars per year really is not easy to finish it.
I think that saying these thinsg loudly we can conclude that the interest of mankind has more power that the interst of money.
Chicago:
Sir,
There has been an upswing in the popularity of the leftist party of Uruguay, which would like to call a plebescite for every decision. Do you see the rising popularity of this party as well as the rise to power of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela as a sign that maybe Latin Americans do not approve of the process of liberalization in these countries?
Jorge Batlle: In the last plebiscit those who were in favour of the law were 80 per cent.
About the Venezuelan government, you must realize that the problems in Venezuela are compeltely different are from ours.
We are in the same continent, only that.
Tampa, FL:
I have tons of family in Montevideo and I hear that it is very difficult to find work because everyone in the country is highly educated and there are just not enough jobs available. What are you doing to help Uruguay's economy produce more jobs?
Jorge Batlle: To produce more jobs, you must a fiscal equilibrium.
Very low inflation. Open economy with all the deregulations that you can imagine.
Our country is the bigger exporter of software in Mercosur, that means something.
Duluth, Minn.:
What is your opinion on "The School of the Americas" (now known under the label, "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation)? Graduates of this institution list 16 pages of Uruguay military so trained at SOA. How does or has that training benefited your country?
What are your thoughts on the U.S. and its attendant corporate involvements in Colombia. And also in Uruguay and other Latin American countries? Thank you for any "enlightenment" you can offer.
[EDITED]
Jorge Batlle: El entrenamiento y formación de militares en distintas escuelas norteamericanas ya existía cuando mi padre era Presidente en 1950.
Advertirá usted que la relación causal que busca no está en las escuelas, está en la economía.
Con rspecto a Colombia, desde nuestro punto de vista, Colombia precisa integrarse al NAFTA como Mexico, esto es mucho mejor que cualquier otra cosa.
Charlottesville, VA:
Uruguay now sits on the cusp of the fifth and final (and also playoff) spot for South American teams qualifying for the 2002 World Cup. How do you see your team's chances of making it to the finals?
Jorge Batlle: Not very good, lamentablemente.
Williamsburg, VA:
Now that a common market has been established, what do you see as the future of Mercosur? Do you favor EU style integration, or are you happy with the current economic-only focus of Mercosur?
Jorge Batlle: The Uruguayasn beleive in a commun market from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Look at Mexico!
Alexandria, Va.:
Considering all the outstanding activities pertaining to the halting/slowing of contraband over the two borders of Brazil and Argentina, how are the proceeds used once all the merchandise and vehicles are confiscated? For instance, to finance the custom's activities or, to the general budget as well (rentas generales)?
Thank you for your exemplary work and dedication especially in this area.
Un abrazo, Ernesto Rosell
Uruguayo residente en Alexandria
Jorge Batlle: Smuggling is an old practice in the world, all over. We sell the merchandise and the government get a part of it.
Lyon Francia:
Ud. ha conocido la carcel y si bien no lo deben de haber maltratado como a otros que eran desconocidos, como se siente cuando ve a los mismos colaboradores de la dictadura hacerse pasar ahora como democratas ?
Que esta haciendo Uruguay con la epidemia de la fiebre aftosa en Europa? A donde exportan la carne?
Gracias, buena suerte
Jorge Batlle: En un tiempo quisieron secuestrar a mis hijos y pusieron una bomba en mi casa y a las personas que lo hicieron las trato correctamente. No creo que los Generales que dieron el golpe de estado y los que pusieron la bomba en casa, cuando niños pensaron en organizarse y hacerlo cuando llegaran a la mayoria de edad. Tampoco creo que nosotros no tengamos algo de culpa en todo lo que sucedio. Ni usted ni yo. Por lo tanto, tend´ria que tratarme mal a mi y a usted y para que??
Monterey, California:
Through the 1970's and early 80's Uruguay had a political and economic climate which resulted in a relatively prosperous economy. There was even a positive balance of payments in foreign trade. All that has disappeared now. The current economic alliance with Argentina and Brasil lead to the closing of factories, businesses, unemployment and poverty. What policies do you think can you pursue to rescue Uruguay from its current economic morass?
Jorge Batlle: Precisamente la economia del 70 y del 80 under the military regime was terrible and we finish this epoque with a fantastic devaluation. In this kind o f world, we must have an open economy, that is the reason why all your presidents democrates or republics, bet on Mister Greenspan.
Long live to him.
Bethesda, Maryland:
Primero que nada, felicitaciones! Me fui de Uruguay hace mas de 22 anos y nunca tuve oportunidad de votar. Pero siempre pense que Ud. era el mejor candidato. Apoyo mucho lo que hace contra el contrabando, "adelgazar" y efectivizar al Estado, hacerlo mas competitivo y abrir nuestros horizontes para exportar mas productos no-tradicionales. Que podemos hacer desde afuera los uruguayos para ayudar en sus inciativas?
Jorge Batlle: Mandar buenas ideas, comunicarnos sus discrepancias, y dar de vez en cuando una vuelta por el Uruguay.
Sarasota, FL:
How do you intend to deal with the child and spousal abuse, as well as children addiction that will ewnsue with such a policy ?
Is Uruguay advocating this policy because it's becoming awash by laundered money ?
Jorge Batlle: Only with educational system for all the people you can prevent abuses on any society. Happily, our fathers have done a good job in this area and we try to follow their steps.
We are not a country with an important activity in regarding this laundring of money. You must realize that our GDP is only 20.000 millions dollars.
the non resident deposits are only 4.000 million dollars with strong Central Bank control.
Chicago:
President Batlle,
I am a great admirer of yours. My family in Uruguay has worked for all of your campaigns for the presidency. How has the deep recession in Argentina affected Uruguay? If this and Brazil's devaluations have had any negative effects, have they caused people to be more skeptical of Mercosur? [EDITED]
Jorge Batlle: Gracias por el trabajo de su familia porque pobres tuvieron que trabajar cinco veces para que yo llegara a Presidente.
La devaluación brasileña fue terrible, recien ahora estamos "repechando". La Argentina con López Murphy tenemos esperanzas en que mejore sustantivamente.
Rece por nosotros.
John Larranaga Duhagon Tampa, FL:
Is president Batlle willing reduce import taxes in Uruguay in order to stimulate trade with Uruguay?
Jorge Batlle: Las tarifas de importanción de Uruguay son muy bajas y nuestro objetivo es ponerlas en línea con las tarifas chilenas.
Tenemos que tratar de convencer a brasileños y argentinos que no es cosa fácil.
Washington, DC:
Dear President Batlle:
Will you be attending the upcoming Summit of the Americas in Quebec and if so, will you attempt to open debate on legalization either informal sessions or informally?
Phillip Smith
Jorge Batlle: Yes, yes
Washington, D.C.:
Is there an easy trick for telling the difference between Uruguay and Paraguay?
Jorge Batlle: Diplomacy impedes me to answer this question.
San Francisco, CA:
Mr. President, please clarify your proposal about drug legalization -- are you proposing that drug consumption and commercialization be fully legalized, or merely that consumption be decriminalized? Should multinational tobacco and pharmaceutical firms be allowed to advertise for narcotics? Wouldn't that cause a sharp and disastrous increase in consumption?
Thanks for your reply.
Robert Collier
reporter
San Francisco Chronicle
Jorge Batlle: Somthing like that can be made only by a global concensus.
Imagine the mony you spend to impede drug traffic and imagine that huge amount of ressources on education for the people who really needs help. Imagine that disapperars on the weak social areas of any town, in any country the easy way to a young boy to have so much money in his pocket without doing anything, without knowing anything, withou respecting or regarding any value, thinking that life is this, just the moment and the power and the money??
You think this is a proper way to act and to resolve this illness?
We don t. Have you watched "Traffic"?
Go tomorrow.
Cary, NC:
What do you think is the most important thing the United States could do for Uruguay in the short term? The long term?
Jorge Batlle: Well, we can make a nice commecial agreement, multilateral or bilateral, I prefer the first one but if not, why not the other way?
Washington DC:
Exelentisimo Presidente Batlle:
Cree usted que la Corte Internacional de Crimenes de Guerra es un foro que se puede - y debe usar - para lograr justicia en el caso de los crimenes cometidos por los militares en paises como Uruguay y Argentina en los 1970s?
Jorge Batlle: No es aplicable al Uruguay, nosotros hemos resuelto nuestras cosas con nuestras decisiones tomadas por el voto de los ciudadanos.
Los ciudadanos son siempre más eficaces que las Cortes de Justicia.
Tlalpan, DF, México:
¿Cuál es el papel de los medios informativos en el desarrollo de nuevas políticas de drogas?
Jorge Batlle: Los medios informativos tienen que hacerlo con objetividad, las opiniones tienen que ser asumidas por los que reciben la información y no inducidas por los que la dan.
Marcela Sanchez:
Thank you so much Mr. President for your participation. Also thanks to everybody who wrote. So long!
Gracias Sr. Presidente por su amable participación. También gracias a todos los que escribieron. Hasta la próxima!
| |
© Copyright 2002 The Washington Post Company | 
