MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur must have an only voice and act as a block, advises former leader Sarkozy

“Without the European Union, France or Germany could have disappeared from the world map” warned Nicholas Sarkozy

“Mercosur must have greater integration, act with an only voice and operate as a block”, advised former French president Nicholas Sarkozy at a business conference in Buenos Aires, where he also underlined that without the European Union, “France or Germany could have disappeared from the world map”

 But “the question is valid, is it enough with Mercosur, I think not” said Sarkozy who called for a greater trade opening, which is how the world is moving despite a 'paradox'.

“The more the world opens, the more it globalizes, the more it wants to keep its identity. Because more than the opening we want to keep our feet in our roots. But Argentina can remain faithful to its culture and tradition opening to the world, that is the great paradox”, explained Sarkozy.

Further on and in direct reference to Argentina's current policy, the former president (2007/2011) talked about money exchange controls which he described as not necessarily the right answer to monetary problems.

“I don't want to get involved in local politics, but I believe money exchange controls are not the solution to all problems. I never favored drawing back into imaginary borders and paper dikes”, said Sarkozy who nevertheless understands that “what is important is the social, economic, education model and conserving jobs and sharing strategies with neighbors that have the same culture; monetary discussion comes after and later”.

Likewise Sarkozy pointed out that “without abundant and cheap energy there is no future for Argentina” and argued in favor of developing non conventional hydrocarbons resources (shale oil and gas).

“In any country without abundant energy you will have poverty, unemployment which destroys the environment more than the development of conventional resources”, said Sarkozy who then blasted environmental groups “they see progress as a problem and not a benefit, and I recall that in the past trains, prints and vaccines also had their detractors”.

Answering a question on international espionage, he was more caustic: “State secrets no longer exist: everything gets to be known, everything gets to be read. If anybody is thinking about something which is not known, then don't even bother to think; spying is a waste of money and time”

Finally the former French leader attacked the media claiming editorials are only focused on “reports that try to destroy and don't explain a thing”. Those who have responsibilities at the head of a government or a corporation must be given the chance to make decisions before criticizing.

“Nowadays it seems trust is always questioned, and I think at this rate we could be at the end of the democratic system path: there are simple values such as time, common sense and reflection that we must recover” concluded Sarkozy.