Hemisphere Highlights, Volume VII, Issue 6 -- June 2008

The government of Canada concludes negotiations for a free-trade agreement with Colombia. Legislation is passed in Mexico to undertake a reform of the country's judicial system. The European Union ends a five-year ban on diplomatic relations with Cuba. A UN report shows an increase in coca production in Colombia, and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe plans to call a referendum to seek endorsement of his election two years ago. The president of Ecuador's Constituent Assembly resigns in protest of the upcoming deadline for approval of the new constitution draft. Three additional autonomy referendums are approved in Bolivia, and the U.S. ambassador is recalled from La Paz following protests outside the embassy. In Argentina, efforts continue to reconstruct the country's political party structure.