ARGENTINA: The Mercosur South American trade bloc says Paraguay will be barred from participation until democratic elections are held as it welcomes Venezuela as a full member.

Record ID: 448996

  • Title: ARGENTINA: The Mercosur South American trade bloc says Paraguay will be barred from participation until democratic elections are held as it welcomes Venezuela as a full member.
  • Date: 30th June 2012
  • Summary: MENDOZA, ARGENTINA (JUNE 29, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MERCOSUR PRESIDENTS DURING SUMMIT
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4HK67OSEYH5NSU31BKRJ89ETY
  • Story Text: The Mercosur regional trading bloc on Friday (June 29) decided to grant Venezuela membership after July 2012, and barred Paraguay from participating until April following the ouster of its president last week.
    In a unanimous decision the bloc decided to temporarily suspend Paraguay after the landlocked country's Senate removed now former President Fernando Lugo from office last Friday in an impeachment trial that lasted a matter of hours, drawing criticism from the region and beyond.
    "To suspend the right of Paraguay to participate in the Mercosur and in the deliberations according to article five of the Ushuaia protocol," Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said.
    Timerman also announced that Venezuela will join Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay as a full Mercosur member on July 31.
    "Article one: the entrance of Venezuela to Mercosur. Article two: hold an official meeting after the special admission of Venezuela on July 31, 2012 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil," Timerman added.
    Venezuela, an associate member, had sought full inclusion in the trade bloc for years. Its membership was supported by Lugo, but was held up by Paraguay's Congress since 2006.
    Before the close of the summit, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez handed the Mercosur chair to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff for the next six months.
    "We have to recognize that this is a very important moment for our region. All analysis show that we are still one of the regions least affected by the crisis. And we have to make the integration of our economies a relevant part of improving the living conditions for our people. And we should also realize that Latin America is not and will not be simply a food, minerals and energy provider," Rousseff said.
    Rousseff said one of the region's main objectives will be to see a return to democracy in Paraguay when it holds scheduled elections next April.
    "This quarter we have to give our best effort to make sure the elections in Paraguay next April are free, democratic and just," she added.
    Lugo's abrupt ouster last week on charges of malfeasance linked to a deadly land dispute has been widely criticized by other Latin American leaders who say the president did not have time to mount a proper defense.
    Lugo's successor, Federico Franco, was barred from participating in the summit in the western Argentine city of Mendoza.
    Regional leaders from the UNASUR group of South American nations are also expected to meet Friday in an emergency session that could lead to Paraguay's suspension from that body as well.
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