VENEZUELA PUSHES FORWARD BID TO JOIN MERCOSUR, BLAMES U.S. FOR DELAYING ENTRY.
The government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused the US of interfering with its bid to join the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) as a full member. Venezuela has been pushing for plenary membership in the trading bloc, with Chavez emphasizing the possibilities for the body in helping to economically integrate the South American continent (see NotiSur, 2005-12-02 and 2007-03-23). While the presidents of the bloc's full members--Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay--approve of Venezuela's bid to join, Venezuela's formal entry has been delayed as the parliaments of two of those countries have failed to ratify it.
Chavez: uncertainty affects Venezuelan industry
"There is no reason that Venezuela's entry should be delayed," said Chavez in a visit to Montevideo, Uruguay, on Aug. 8. He said his country's objectives would have to change if entry was not granted by the end of the year.
"There have been discrepancies and obstacles for Venezuela's entry into MERCOSUR and the confrontation in that process is now becoming uncomfortable for us," said Chavez, adding that Venezuela "needs MERCOSUR" and that the regional bloc "needs to grow and transform itself."
The executives of the four bloc members approved Venezuelan entry as did the parliaments of Argentina and Uruguay, but approval is still pending in the legislatures of Brazil and Paraguay.
"Our integrationist vocation has been and will remain clear, but, if the issue keeps being set back, without any explanation of the reasons, we should take other roads," said Chavez. He denied that he was putting out an ultimatum.
"I am not one who launches an ultimatum to authorities of other countries, but we need a definition to secure our development plans. Today in Venezuela there is much uncertainty about what is happening with our entry into MERCOSUR and that affects industry, production, and the country in general," said Chavez. He said that Venezuela would keep waiting and still had patience, although he set September as the month for "a definition."
Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez said his country was a "staunch defender" of Venezuela's bid to enter the bloc. "Venezuela is a fundamental actor and of great importance for the region," said Vazquez, whose nation currently occupies the temporary presidency of the bloc. "We are going to look at the possible roads to accomplish [Venezuela's] incorporation in the short term."
At a late June summit of MERCOSUR countries, Venezuelan Vice...
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