MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur countries CAN associate members

Mercosur full members have become associate members of the Andean Community of Nations, CAN, reported the Peruvian Foreign Affairs Ministry press office in Lima.

The decision taken by CAN members Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela means that Mercosur countries now have the "institutional mechanisms to participate in regular meetings of the Andean Community, including presidential summits", reads the official report.

"The Peruvian Foreign Affairs ministry, currently holding the chair of the Andean Community pushed for this reciprocal association convinced that the convergence of the two blocks is an important step towards the conformation of the Community of South American Nations".

Finally the report says that consequently, "the Peruvian government has extended invitations to Mercosur presidents to assist or be represented in the coming Andean Community countries summit to be held next July 18 in Lima".