MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Duhalde's dream of a united peoples of South America.

The president of Mercosur Representatives Committee Eduardo Duhalde arrived in Chile for a two days visit to sponsor energy integration and the “union and harmonization” of South American peoples.

After a morning meeting with Chilean Foreign Secretary Soledad Alvear a press conference was held.

"I have a dream, the dream of the region's Liberators O'Higgins, Bolivar, San Martín, Miranda to see our peoples in South America united", said the former Argentine president, adding that "we are in the midst of an integration process that has become irreversible".

Mr. Duhalde said that in the past the countries of the region were involved in a sort of "cold war" with the armies having their conflict hypothesis geared against their neighbors, "but that has been buried, the confrontation idea has been replaced by a concerted effort of our peoples to develop and achieve a better future".

Regarding energy Mr. Duhalde was equally optimistic stating that Mercosur has some of the "world's major energy sources" and this could easily become integrated into an "energy ring" covering the region. "We're convinced that energy integration is not only possible but can become a reality quiet fast", said Mr. Duhalde.

Chilean minister Soledad Alvear agreed with Mr. Duhalde "who has the trust of all Mercosur presidents to advance in the integration effort".

"We have a great task and challenge before us but we must share the teachings of the European Union", said Ms. Alvear who also expressed Chile's interest in participating of the trade litigation tribunal recently inaugurated in Paraguay.

Mercosur has four full members, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and four associates, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela.