12 December 2001

Amb. Gutierrez on Terrorism's Economic Impact on the Americas

The following article ("September 11 and its Aftermath: The Impact of Doing Business in the Americas") is by Ambassador Lino Gutierrez, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. There are no republication restrictions; the article is in the public domain.

"September 11 and its Aftermath: The Impact of Doing Business in the Americas" By Lino Gutierrez

(Lino Gutierrez is Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the U.S. Department of State.)

When terrorists struck in New York and Washington on September 11 the response of the entire hemisphere was immediate, strong, and supportive. Many of our neighbors have provided this support while simultaneously dealing with their own sorrow as a result of the attack. More than 300 nationals from 28 Western Hemisphere countries were lost in the attack, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic suffering almost half of the casualties.

In addition, the September terrorist attacks have weakened growth prospects and the business climate throughout the hemisphere. As our domestic economy was affected, so were the economies of our neighbors. And these economic difficulties, in turn, threaten to worsen democratic and security problems.

In response to the attacks and their aftermath, the United States government and its allies have developed a comprehensive four-part approach.

First, we have asked all countries to ratify the 12 international counterterrorism treaties that allow international cooperation to work smoothly. This empowers each country to help stabilize the whole. The Organization of American States, through its Inter-American Counterterrorism Committee, known as CICTE, is using the treaties to develop a hemispheric security program that will institutionalize the collaborative structure being created.

Second, we are working with the nations of the hemisphere to ensure the identification and seizure of the financial assets of terrorism. All of the democratic nations of the region moved quickly to review financial records. Many nations have created or are now creating financial intelligence units. The places where terrorists can hide their assets are rapidly dwindling.

Third, we are working with countries to ensure that terrorism is criminalized in all its forms. Together with the universal jurisdiction created by the treaties, this strips away much of the appeal of using the Caribbean or Central America as a pipeline. The terrorists and their abettors will soon learn that there is nowhere to hide.

Last, and perhaps most importantly, we are working to improve border controls. This is in all our interests. The Federal Aviation Administration has suggested ways to improve airline security, and airlines are complying with those guidelines. The Immigration and Naturalization Service provides training to immigration and airline personnel around the region to increase airport security and border integrity, as well as to establish cooperative ties to enable international cooperation on immigration issues. This also helps reduce corruption.

The greatest enemies of terrorism and organized crime are democracy and economic stability. Our approach to the hemisphere has remained the same, based on three critical pillars: sustainable development, including increasing free trade and economic stability; democratization and rule of law, including human rights and education; and promoting hemispheric security, including combating terrorism and an aggressive but balanced counternarcotics program. Each of these is necessary to the other.

Earlier enemies learned that America is the arsenal of democracy; today's enemies will learn that America is the economic engine for freedom, opportunity, and development. To that end, U.S. leadership in promoting the international economic and trading system is vital. We continue to work with the hemisphere on free trade initiatives and economic growth. But the ultimate goal is the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which has the potential to triple trade flows among the countries of the Americas within a decade. All 34 democratic leaders of this hemisphere remain committed to free trade, which was reaffirmed at the Quebec Summit of the Americas in April.

We continue on our path to a hemisphere that is free, prosperous, and peaceful. Not even the attacks of September 11 can deter us. The goals we have now, the goals we have always had, are the best route to defeating terrorists, criminals, and every other threat we face. Together we will achieve them.