From Deseret News archives:

Summit likely U.S. bash fest

Iranian, Chavez expected to lead verbal assault in Cuba

Published: Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006 7:50 p.m. MDT
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HAVANA — One visiting leader calls for the annihilation of Israel. A second labels the United States the biggest terrorist nation on Earth. And the host country describes President Bush as a Nazi-style warmonger.

Expect plenty of verbal fireworks when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez join more than 50 world leaders in Havana for the 14th Non-Aligned Movement summit beginning Monday.

"Inevitably at non-aligned meetings there is a lot of rhetoric launched at the bogeyman, which is the United States," said Larry Birns, director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, a Washington-based policy group.

Analysts expect Chavez to hurl the most caustic attacks given his ambition of replacing ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro as the global spokesman for the left. The United States also makes an easy target given its sinking international prestige.

But at least one Havana-based diplomat whose nation is participating in the summit hopes the event does not turn into an anti-American slugfest.

"I don't see a specific country being singled out," said the diplomat, who asked not to be identified. "It's an opportunity for all Third World and developing countries to increase their cooperation."

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Largely a relic of the Cold War, the non-aligned movement played an important role during the 1960s and 1970s in steering the United States and the Soviet Union away from a global conflict while championing the independence of many African nations.

But the movement faded in recent decades, and the Sept. 11-16 meeting is expected to yield few results, analysts say.

A draft of the summit's final declaration posted on the official Web site supports sustainable development, respect for human rights and other principles while condemning "the attempts at hegemonic domination" and "the unjust international economic order."

The gathering also is likely to condemn Israel's bombing of Lebanon and U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba.

Analysts say member nations have difficulty reaching a consensus on many issues because they are divided among anti-American firebrands like Chavez, a plethora of small nations with little clout, and emerging powers like India who seek good relations with the United States.

The non-aligned movement also has no ability to enforce its resolutions.

"It's a diplomatic mechanism," said William LeoGrande, dean of American University's School of Public Affairs. "These are for the most part small countries and poor countries. In terms of traditional international powers, they don't have much influence."

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