MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile honours EU Trade Commissioner.

European Union Trade Commissar Pascal Lamy was bestowed in Brussels Chile's greatest honour for his contribution to the association agreement signed between Chile and the EU in 2002.

The Great Cross of the Merit Order, Chile's main honour to foreign dignitaries was bestowed on Mr. Lamy by Chile's Ambassador before the EU Alberto Van Klaveren, following "instructions from President Ricardo Lagos".

In as brief speech before EU officials and Latinamerican diplomats, Ambassador Van Klaveren expressed Chile's "acknowledgement and gratitude" to Mr. Lamy's "intelligence and clarity" in conducting the trade negotiations in the framework of a greater and united Europe with the purpose of greater "world governance".

The Chilean diplomat added he only had one issue to regret and that was the non conclusion of the association agreement between Mercosur and the EU before October 31, as has been mutually agreed.

Mr. Lamy, 57, a Socialist thanked wholeheartedly the kind words of the Chilean ambassador and recalled that Chile for his generation was a "very important country" following the shock of the 1973 coup, and the political and economic advances achieved by the country particularly in the last fifteen years.

The EU Trade Commissar highlighted his friendship towards the Chilean government and the Chilean president who he described as a "model" for other heads of government in the region.

"He's a man very much in touch with all the signals from public opinion and at the same capable of showing and exercising leadership", emphasized Mr. Lamy.

Finally Mr. Lamy underlined the "willingness and convergence" which dominated the EU-Chile talks that enabled in record time to reach an association agreement that includes free trade, political dialogue and cooperation.

Mr. Lamy also said he was confident that in the near future EU will be able to sign an association agreement with Mercosur, and conclude similar understandings with the Andean Community and the Central American region, which will close the ring of agreements between the EU and the Latinamerican continent, following the path opened by Mexico and Chile.

"Together we can be stronger before other approaches that do not share our philosophy".

Next November 1 a new European Commission takes over and Mr. Lamy's post will be covered by Peter Mandelson from the United Kingdom.