MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur Ministers meeting

The Mercosur presidential summit scheduled for this Friday was postponed for later in January and only Foreign Affairs Ministers from the block's four countries and associate members Chile and Bolivia will be meeting in Buenos Aires.

The Ministers will consider matters pending from the December summit in Montevideo, particularly regarding tariffs, and make preparations for the presidential gathering at the end of the month. Argentine Foreign Minister Carlos Ruckauf announced the Mercosur presidential summit when taking office on January 3rd. Apparently the summit was postponed because Brazilian president Fernando Cardoso is preparing for an official visit to Russia and Bolivian president Jorge Quiroga was unable to participate because of previous engagements. Mr. Ruckauf is currently in Brasilia, his first overseas visit.