MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay “assessing” its support for Venezuela’s Mercosur admission

Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata

Paraguayan Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata described as extremely worrying the escalating “bellicose speech” of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and admitted Paraguay could review its stand in support of that country’s Mercosur admission “if he persists in calling to prepare for war”.

“We would assess the situation according to the latest events. In fact we are continuously assessing the evolution of this escalating rhetoric”, said Lacognata following a meeting Tuesday with President Fernando Lugo.

He added however that the “democratic clause” can’t be applied to a government which is not officially a Mercosur full member.

Venezuela is an associate member of Mercosur and its admission as full member still awaits a vote from the Brazilian Senate and from Paraguay’s congress.

“Obviously we are concerned with the Colombia/Venezuela situation and we will support any initiative from a friendly country or an international forum so that this dispute can be solved diplomatically”, added the minister.

“The escalating verbal fencing” between both countries has been on the radars of South American countries for months.

“Our position is that of a permanent assessment and monitoring of the situation; I wouldn’t jump to drastic conclusions at this moment”, said Lacognata.

“We don’t believe, we can’t believe that two neighbourly countries, brothers of the South American community such as Colombia and Venezuela could end involved in an armed conflict”.

Lacognata said Paraguay continues to believe in diplomacy and dialogue to overcome differences. He recalled that in Latinamerica all peoples live under democracy, “excepting the particular situation of Honduras”.

“Paraguay adheres to diplomacy and international forums to discuss problems and differences between countries”, he emphasized.