MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Latin-American integration has to be a priority.

The presidents from Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, appealed to make Latin-American integration a priority, according to a joint statement made after the meeting held on Wednesday in Manaus and disclosed yesterday in Brasilia.

Both presidents stated in the document that said integration has to be at a "political, economic, social and physical infrastructure" level.

They considered that by doing this "the region may certainly reach growth with social justice more rapidly, as long as the integration makes progress".

In this sense, both presidents ? who met on Wednesday in Manaus at a binational corporate meeting and at the launching of the II Amazon International Trade Show? pointed out the importance of the rapprochement between the Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) and the Andean Community of Nations (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela).

In this respect, they affirmed that this approach between the two sub regional trade blocks "comprises a cornerstone in the construction of a South American Community of Nations".

With respect to the past referendum of August 15, which confirmed Chavez' tenure, both presidents expressed their "satisfaction due to the fact that the same had occurred under normal circumstances", and that it had also become "a peaceful and constitutional solution to the crisis".

Besides, president Lula, whose country was part of the group of friend countries of Venezuela ? formed additionally by Chile, Spain, the United States, Mexico and Portugal - to contribute towards reaching a solution for the political crisis of that country, "was rejoiced at the willingness of the Venezuelan government to encourage the dialogue with sectors of the democratic opposition for the benefit of national interests".

In the framework of the bilateral relations, the statement of both presidents specially highlighted "the friendship spirit which prevails, with the coincidence of positions regarding the international and regional agenda".

Regarding strictly economic issues between both countries, they expressed their "satisfaction" due to the interest of the respective oil companies in expanding their operations in both countries.

Furthermore, they "greeted with satisfaction" the conclusion of the technical negotiations, which shall soon enable the signing of an agreement to avoid double taxation.

Finally, President Chavez renewed the support of Venezuela to Brazil's hope to occupy a permanent position in a possible reform of the United Nations Security Council (UN).