Below, please find a list of events, hosted by CSIS. Click on an event title to view more information. Video or audio files of on-site conferences or events are usually posted within two days.
Minister of National Defense of Uruguay, Jose Bayardi
Uruguay's Minister of National Defense, Dr. José Bayardi, will discuss a variety of topics related to the Uruguayan Ministry of Defense, including international peacekeeping efforts in Haiti and Congo, human rights, pending armed forces reorganization legislation, and issues related regional security. This event will be held in Spanish with simultaneous English interpretation. Friday, July 25, 2008, 2:00 - 3:30pm4th Floor Conference RoomCenter for Strategic and International Studies1800 K Street NW, Washington, DC, 20006 To RSVP, please contact the CSIS Americas Program at rsvp_americas@csis.orgor (202) 775-3211.
July 24
Minister of Internal and External Security of Ecuador, Dr. Gustavo Larrea
Dr. Larrea will discuss a variety of topics related to Ecuadoran security, including border issues, counter-drug efforts, and international humanitarian law. Following his presentation, he will answer questions from the audience. This event will be held in Spanish. To RSVP, please contact the CSIS Americas Program at rsvp_americas@csis.org or (202) 775-3180.
June 30
Is Haiti Drifting Towards Crisis?
AUDIO (streaming mp3, 01:30:51) | VIDEO (01:31:02 Real Media from C-Span ) Haiti is once again threatened by growing instability. Food riots in April in Port au Prince created a political upheaval when President Préval’s Prime Minister, Jacques-Édouard Alexis, was forced to resign. Since that time, Préval’s efforts to appoint a replacement twice have been rejected by the Chamber of Deputies. A stalemate in governance may place at risk hard-won efforts at reform, institutional building and economic development.
June 20
A Conversation with H.E. Roberto Flores Bermúdez, Ambassador of Honduras
AUDIO (mp3, 01:45:17) Ambassador Roberto Flores Bermúdez gave an overview of the current regional situation in Central America, as well as going in to specific details about domestic achievements and challenges within Honduras. He identified three main challenges faced by the countries of Central America— organized crime, narco-trafficking, and poverty— and outlined how each of these challenges threatens progress in the areas of democratic governance, security, and development.
April 29
Presentation by Eugenio Hernandez Flores, Governor of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico
AUDIO (mp3, 01:07:08) On April 29, 2008, the Americas Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies was pleased to host H.E. Eugenio Hernandez Flores, Governor of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Governor Hernandez discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by this strategically important state located on the U.S.-Mexican border. Issues to discussed included border bottlenecks and ways to facilitate the flow of legitimate goods and people between Mexico and the United States, combating organized crime in Mexico, and the importance of energy reform to the state of Tamaulipas. Following his presentation, he answered questions from the audience. This event was held in Spanish.
April 28
A Presentation by His Excellency Álvaro Colom Caballeros, President of Guatemala
Video (44:04 wmv) | Audio (44:04 mp3) The Americas Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Inter-American Dialogue are pleased to host a presentation by His Excellency Alvaro Colom Caballeros, President of Guatemala. President Colom discussed his program of government for Guatemala and Guatemala’s bilateral relationship with the United States. Following his presentation, he answered questions from the audience. This event was held in Spanish.
Statesmen's Forum: His Excellency Nelson Jobim
AUDIO* (mp3, 01:07:46) | VIDEO** (wmv, 01:07:46) | TRANSCRIPT (pdf) *House audio...English and Portuguese **Translated audio The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) hosted a discussion with Nelson Jobim, defense minister of Brazil titled, "Brazil: A Defense Overview." Brent Scocroft, CSIS Counselor and Trustee, introduced Defense Minister Jobim. Johanna Mendelson Forman, a senior associate at CSIS, moderated the question-and-answer session.
March 12
Outlook for the Argentine Economy: A Breakfast Roundtable
Daniel Artana, Juan Luis Bour, and Fernando Navajas are economists at the Buenos Aires-based Latin American Economic Foundation (FIEL), a highly regarded, independent think tank devoted to economic and social research on Argentina and Latin America. Join us for a discussion of such issues as monetary policy, energy policy, and how these and other policy choices are likely to impact Argentina’s economic performance.
March 10
Venezuela Forum: Civil-Military Relations in the Bolivarian Republic
In this session Domingo Irwin, Professor at the Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador, Caracas; Boris O. Saavedra, Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, Washington D.C.; and Harold Trinkunas, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of National Security Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, discussed civil-military relations and the Venezuelan armed forces since 1998. The panelists took questions from the audience following their presentations.
February 25
Haiti Update: MINUSTAH at Four Years
AUDIO (mp3, 01:13:12) Four years after the UN entered Haiti in its seventh mission in more than ten years, there has been progress on security, governance, and economic recovery, with cautious optimism looking forward. The UN Security Council Resolution on MINUSTAH that is in place until October 2008 and set for renewal includes in its mandate a strong commitment to development. It also requires the specific establishment of benchmarks for future progress. As part of his duties as Deputy Special Representative, Mr. Boutroue is also Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator of the United Nations system in charge of humanitarian and development issues. Mr. Boutroue's presentation addressed the key challenges ahead for Haiti and how MINUSTAH, UNDP and the broader UN family are working to address them. Following his remarks, Mr. Boutroue answered questions from the audience.
February 15
Mexico's Recent Electoral Reform: A Change for the Better?
AUDIO (mp3, 01:57:03) In the wake of the disputed 2006 presidential election, the Mexican Congress passed a fiercely debated electoral reform bill in September 2007. The bill amended the Mexican Constitution and modified the federal electoral code (COFIPE)—through which all federal elections in Mexico are regulated. Some areas which were reformed pertained to political campaigns and primaries, the organization and role of political parties, public campaign finance, the role of the media, as well as punitive measures. Supporters of the bill argued that the electoral reform strengthens Mexican electoral democracy, particularly from the standpoint of limiting the influence of money and interests groups in Mexican elections. Critics of the bill argued that it limits civil liberties and political rights of Mexican citizens, and strengthens the control of the major political parties. The bill, which went into effect on January 14, 2008, will regulate the 2009 mid-term and 2012 presidential elections. Sergio Sarmiento, columnist at Reforma newspaper; Jeffrey Weldon, professor at the ITAM; and Raúl Ã?vila, professor at UNAM discussed these events and answered questions from the audience.
