MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur is “not useful” for Uruguay's objectives

Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez said that Mercosur is “not useful” to his country's aspirations and proposed deep changes in the functioning of the South American block which also includes Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

"We want a Mercosur which really favors our peoples; at present we are facing serious problems and great difficulties", said Mr. Vazquez during an energy summit in Asunción, Paraguay where he met with his counterparts from Bolivia, Evo Morales, Venezuela Hugo Chavez and host Nicanor Duarte.

In its current conditions Mercosur is "not useful" for the objectives of Uruguay, added Mr. Vazquez in direct reference to the conflict with Argentina over the construction of two pulp mills in a shared border river.

The Uruguayan president said that he has requested Argentina to convene a meeting of Mercosur disputes tribunal and the block's Permanent Committee to address the issue of the pulp mills.

"We're waiting for a reply but it's taking too long", stressed Mr. Vazquez.

Argentina currently holds the Mercosur rotating chair and has been reluctant to address Uruguay's request.

As to the purpose of the energy summit Mr. Vazquez said Uruguay would listen carefully to Venezuela's proposal for a mega-gas pipeline which sponsored together with Brazil and Argentina is programmed to cover most of the South American continent.

However the Uruguayan president added that in the short term the feasibility of a gas pipeline from Bolivia and supplying Paraguay and Uruguay was very important as well as developing the Paraguay-Parana hydro routes.

Meantime in Montevideo it was informed Uruguay will not be participating at the Mercosur and associate members Labour and Social Security ministers meeting scheduled this week in Buenos Aires.

Minister Eduardo Bonomi admitted a "political reason" behind the decision adding that the bilateral relation with Argentina is "complicated". Until there's a reply from Buenos Aires regarding Uruguay's request for a convening of the block's Council to consider the pulp mills controversy, he will not be travelling to the meeting.

"Uruguay wants to complain the blockading of the routes leading to the international bridges" linking both countries underlined minister Bonomi.