MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur Permanent Task Force

Mercosur Interior and Justice Ministers meeting in Montevideo decided the creation of a Permanent Task Force, (GTP), to coordinate efforts against terrorism and to study initiatives to be included in the Regional Security Strategy.

GTP envisages not only data sharing but coordinated actions plus the participation of delegates from the four Mercosur full members in the Triple Border Command, that monitors particularly Ciudad del Este a common Argentine-Brazilian-Paraguayan area known for arms and drugs trade, smuggling and a sort of clearing house for stolen property. A significant proportion of the population in the area is of Middle East origin and international intelligence organisations believe it could be an ideal area for dormant terrorists.

Several arrests mainly to check documents, "with judicial warrants" were made in the area recently but according to the Paraguayan Interior Minister, "all suspects have been set free".

However Mercosur Ministers were quiet clear in indicating in an official release that any action taken by the group will be "in accordance with International law, each member's legal system and human rights".

Brazil also demanded that a special clause underlining the intrinsic texture of Mercosur and its population, where people from different ethnic origin and religious beliefs live peacefully and constructively sharing tolerance and democratic values, be included.

"Our nations have therefore a vital role to play in this tragic moment for civilization, in which effective action against terrorism is undertaken, but that at the same time demands extreme prudence and wisdom to ensure the preservation of those values and rights which are assets of our societies".

During the Montevideo meeting Interior and Justice Ministers were visited by an FBI representative who according to reliable sources allegedly emphasised the United States concern over the possibility of a terrorist presence in the Southern Cone.

Finally Mercosur ministers pointed out that the Permanent Task Force is exclusively regional, with "no additional membership or alliances", besides close links with Chile and Bolivia, and normal contacts with other intelligence gathering organisations.