Macri says Venezuela "cannot be part of Mercosur" due to current human rights situation

Record ID: 84031

  • Title: Macri says Venezuela "cannot be part of Mercosur" due to current human rights situation
  • Date: 24th October 2016
  • Summary: MACRI AND VAZQUEZ WALKING ON RED CARPET IN GARDENS OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
  • Embargoed: 8th November 2016 20:29
  • Keywords: Mauricio Macri Tabare Vazquez Mercosur political crisis Nicolas Maduro
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Reuters ID: LVA00355D8G1V
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Argentina's President Mauricio Macri on Monday (October 24) said Venezuela can no longer be a part of the Mercosur regional bloc as tensions brew in the OPEC nation amidst a standoff between the opposition and President Nicolas Maduro.
    Tensions have been high in Venezuela since a referendum drive to remove the unpopular Maduro was suspended.
    Ramping up the crisis, the opposition-led National Assembly this weekend began proceedings to put Maduro on trial for violating democracy. Still, the trial is unlikely to get traction, given the government and Supreme Court say congress has legitimatised itself.
    Speaking in Buenos Aires after a meeting with Uruguay's Tabare Vazquez, Macri said Venezuela was not respecting the basic democratic tenet of Mercosur.
    "In regards to Venezuela, we're both very worried with the escalation of things and how bad they are. Clearly the declaration by the Venezuelan Congress recently has been offensive and brings us closer to confirmation that Venezuelan cannot be part of Mercosur. It needs to be condemned by all the nations of the Americas and the whole world because, as I have said a number of times, they are not respecting human rights in Venezuela," he said.
    Mercosur is South America's sub-regional bloc comprising of regional heavyweights such as Brazil and Argentina. It is a full customs union and a trading bloc but has struggled to create international free trade deals.
    However, in May talks with the EU on trade talks were restarted to create a pact that would encompass 750 million people.
    Uruguay's Vazquez told media a China deal was also on the cards.
    "I agree with him (Macri) fully, that the best thing is that we advance with a free trade deal like Mercosur, which is the best thing and what we are doing with the European Union. But we also know that the People's Republic of China came forward to Mercosur six years ago over the signing of a free trade deal and Mercosur still has not responded, not even just to say no. Firstly it would be great, as I told President (Macri), if in the next Mercosur meeting that this issue were raised, that it be analysed in depth, to explore the possibility of advancing together with this. In the meantime, Uruguay will explore this route over the possibility of a free trade deal with China," he added.
    Argentina's Commerce Secretary announced earlier this month that a deal with Mercosur and EU could be in place within two years and would then be followed by the UK, after Brexit.
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