Charles Shapiro, the senior advisor for economic initiatives in the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, is slated to be among the dozens of speakers at a three-day conference starting Wednesday in Miami Beach on Cuba and other international issues.

Organized by the American Bar Association's international law section, the annual event this year will take a close look at trade and investment opportunities in Cuba as relations between Washington and Havana begin to thaw. Some will argue the time is now for a change in how the neighboring adversaries interact. But others will argue that better relations won't come anytime soon.

``There's the big question on when or if the embargo will be lifted or relations will be normalized. . .,'' said George Harper, a panelist and president of the Inter-American Bar Association. ``I hate to say it, but I don't see anything new along on those lines.''

As it happens, the conference begins the same day the United Nations General Assembly is expected to vote on a resolution that would condemn the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Previous votes have have been approved with little resistance.

The American Bar Association conference -- themed ``The Global Economy and its Effects on Lawyers and Our Clients'' -- takes place at the Eden Roc, 4525 Collins Ave.

In addition to trade and investment with Cuba, topics will run the full gamut, from the protection of trafficking victims to cybercrime and piracy to immigration policy and border security to the role of government in Latin America.

Shannon will be heading to Honduras a few days after his speech.

The State Department announced Tuesday that Shannon will travel there as part of a delegation seeking to meet with the interim government and ousted President Manuel Zelaya in a bid to resolve the political crisis that unfolded after Zelaya was ousted in June.

Visit abanet.org/intlaw/fall09/ for more information.

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