MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile returns to the Andean fold but as an “associate” member

Bolivia's Foreign Affairs Minister David Choquehuanca announced Friday in La Paz that Chile had formalized its intention of returning to the Community of Andean Nations, CAN, which she abandoned 31 years ago.

"Chile has requested to return as an associate and not as a full member of the Andean Community", said Choquehuanca. Next June 12/14, Tarija, Bolivia, will be hosting the 17th CAN summit whose members include Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. Venezuela abandoned the organization in 2006 when several members of CAN announced the signing of bilateral trade agreements with United States. Choquehuanca pointed out that Chile' request does not include a timetable for returning to full membership. Chile was one of the original founders of the Andean nations' regional organization. Chile left the Andean Pact, as it was called then, because in 1976 the ruler was Dictator Augusto Pinochet whose regime was vigorously promoting free trade and an open economy, contrary to the prevailing economic opinion in the group. The Bolivian official underlined the significance of Chile's reincorporation because there are plans to create an enlarged "Pacific Community of nations" that includes Mexico and Central America plus the Andean community.