BRAZIL-MERCOSUR/SUMMIT Brazil's Rousseff warns against anti-democratic moves in region

Record ID: 146806

  • Title: BRAZIL-MERCOSUR/SUMMIT Brazil's Rousseff warns against anti-democratic moves in region
  • Date: 17th July 2015
  • Summary: BRASILIA, BRAZIL (JULY 17, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICHOLAS MADURO, ARRIVING FOR MERCOSUR SUMMIT VARIOUS OF MADURO AND BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT, DILMA ROUSSEFF, GREETING EACH OTHER CLOSE-UP OF ROUSSEFF AND MADURO SHAKING HANDS FOR PHOTOGRAPHS ROUSSEFF WELCOMING BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT, EVO MORALES PHOTOGRAPHERS ROUSSEFF AND MO
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA61JJTVLT0EC9R8TUIQAR4020Y
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff told regional peers on Friday (July 17) there is no room for "anti-democratic adventures" in South America, a day after the speaker of Brazil's lower house said he was weighing legal arguments for her impeachment.
    Speaking to the heads of state of the Mercosur trade bloc, Rousseff said political leaders should strive for dialogue to resolve ideological differences.
    "There is no room for anti-democratic adventures in South America," said Rousseff, just two hours after the speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, broke ties with her government.
    The first day of the two-day summit brought together representatives from the five member states; Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, as well as associate countries from the region including Bolivia which is in the process of being incorporated as a full member of the body.
    Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pushed for a Mercosur bank and reserve pool based on that established by the BRIC countries in July 2014.
    "In Venezuela we believe that the world is configuring itself for the future. What would be useful for Mercosur is a world similar to that of the BRICS, with a bank, a reserve pool like that of the BRICS. We should take the idea of bank and turn it into reality, take the idea of a South American reserve pool and turn it into reality. Configuring new architecture is possible today. It is not just a dream, a topic of discussion, a political lecture, it is a necessity, a matter of urgency, and it is a possibility," said Maduro.
    The regional trade bloc is also expected to prepare a proposal to open a free trade deal with the European Union.
    Off and on talks have been held since 1999 and were taken up again in 2010 after a six-year freeze. Talks have floundered in the past over European agricultural subsidies and the opening of Mercosur industries to competition from Europe.
    An official lunch was offered for the officials following morning meetings at the Brazilian foreign ministry in which Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira offered a toast to the visiting delegates celebrating the coming together of countries in the region on friendly terms.
    The rotating presidency of the bloc, known as Mercosul in Portuguese speaking Brazil, will be passed from the host country to Paraguay at the end of the two day meeting.
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