MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile “reasonably optimistic” about regional integration.

Chile is “reasonably optimistic” about South American integration following this week's presidential meetings in Cuzco, Peru where the South American Community of Nations, SACN, was officially launched, said Chilean Foreign Affairs minister Ignacio Walker.

For Chile it had a double satisfaction explained Mr. Walker since the agenda for the South American Community is "realistic" and "we were able to strengthen relations with our neighbours particularly Bolivia and Chile".

"We managed to make her (SACN) land softly because the big danger is the big objectives that can't be achieved. I believe that crude, frank, friendly talks have shown us there's a clear option of geographical unity in South America".

During the Cuzco presidential summit the rumours insisted Chile was putting obstacles which were denied by several delegates. Apparently Chilean President Ricardo Lagos was insistent in a specific agenda which included the coordination of financial efforts and the creation of an energy grid.

"Some important issues were addressed such as infrastructure, energy and project financing like that of Brazil and Peru (inter-oceanic land link), so we are reasonably optimistic", pointed out Mr. Walker.

Regarding the controversial issue of tariffs, since Chile averages 3% and lower, Mr. Walker said in a conciliatory tone that, "there are some issues more difficult than others, but we are all determined to make an effort in opening our economies; actually by 2007, 87% of inter-regional trade will have zero tariff, so we are actually advancing".

Finally Mr. Walker said Chile was happy to be back in the Community of Andean Nations, as an observer.

"We are Andean, we've always been but we've practiced an open regionalism, which means a non excluding option".