Veto Power

Let me start stating “i consider the Irani regimen isn´t an example of social enlightment nor a progressive society”, the actions taken by Tehran since the Theological Revolution came to power has been alienating to anyone who interacts with them, isolating the country even more, in a desperate measure of the establishment to stay in power.

However, we must analize the facts very carefully before endorsing any action that would have greater consequences in the Middle East. First of all, we, the international community, must demand the recognition of Palestine as a fully UN member, if any future resolution against Iran is brought to the UN Security Council.

The veto threat from the US against the creation of the palestine state must face a similar action when a likely resolution for more severe sanctions against Iran are discussed in the Security Council. Balance in the region will only be achieved when both parties received equally the hardship of the international pressure.

In the unfortunate side of the equation, we have France and Britain, too aligned to the US international agenda to risk having any friction with the military mighty helping them to reassert both countries as global military powers. In the other side, we have the so called “rogue states”, Russia and China, making the difference in a potential result.

Russia and China, along with emerging super powers Brazil and India have enough PR muscle to shift international public opinion into a more favorable outcome in regards of Palestine, despite intense lobby from money and influence powerful jewish groups. Let´s not forget either in the other issue underlined by this controversy, the arms traffic in the southern US border.

NRA or interest groups related with the weapon industry; i do not know who else to blame for lobbying so effectively in Washington to mantain their hands out of a very sensitive problem with consequences in the whole Latin American area. Let's hope for the best for a fully independent Palestine.

Spanish Double Standard

Last week, one of the two candidates with real chances to win the government presidency in Spain, stated “Europe and Latin America are my priorities in foreign policy”. Now, the bitter dispute for the control of Repsol, Spain's biggest energy company, it has raised many doubts of reciprocity in the treatment of corporate investment across the pond.

During the nineties, many spanish corporations took advantage of the privatization of many state companies throughout Latin American, some of the acquisitions resulted to be not very advantegeous. That would be the case of flag airlines in many countries in the region, where Iberia bought them out only to take them out of business few years later.

Telecommunications and banking were other areas where companies from Spain received special treatment, resulting in very lucrative businesses. Worldwide household names like Santander and Telefónica got their break after expanding operations in the Americas, turning them into a cash cows overnight.

It is unfortunate however the lack of reciprocity shown in Spain, in regards of investment made by corporations these time coming from the opposite direction, cashing from a prolongued commodity based boom. Even respected newspapers such as  El País of Spain, put pressure in the Sacyr-Pemex (mexican state-run oil company) alliance to control Repsol.

Among the arguments were, the undervalued stock price Pemex paid, presumably in exchange of drilling technology and distribution bargains. After all, low stock prices offer the right opportunity to do business anywhere in the world, although what transpires seems to be related to a bias of being opportunity savvy.