MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay interested in discussing “arms race” at the Unasur summit

Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata said all “conflict hypothesis” in the region must be addressed

Conflict hypothesis and arms race in the region must also be included in the context of the controversy over US forces in Colombian bases during the coming Unasur (Union of South American Nations) summit in Argentina, according to the Paraguayan government official position.

Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata who will be travelling with President Fernando Lugo to Bariloche on Friday said that Paraguay will propose that the issue of US forces in Colombian bases be considered by the Unasur Defence Council which would then have 60 days “to present solution proposals for the issue”.

“We will also propose an ample space for political and diplomatic debate” to discuss other military affairs from the region which “concern Paraguay”, added Lacognata.

The military issue debate should be addressed “in its full context, not only in reference to the military accord between Colombia and the US”, which has triggered suspicions in the region and has divided Unasur members.

Several countries respect Colombia’s sovereign decisions, others condemn the treaty as a provocation while others want full guarantees that US forces surveillance and monitoring activities will be limited to Colombia territory.

Lacognata said that the Paraguayan proposal in intended to address all possible conflict hypothesis and arms shopping by countries from the region.

Land locked Paraguay is particularly concerned with events in neighbouring Bolivia which has gone shopping for arms, has signed military agreements with Venezuela and has close contacts with Iran and Russia, that allegedly have sent or have promised advisors in military and security affairs.

Eight decades ago Paraguay and Bolivia went to war over alleged oil deposits in the Chaco region. After a bloody and exhausting conflict Paraguay defeated Bolivian forces and kept part of the territory where oil was never discovered, so far.

The final peace accord and new borders was only ratified earlier this year by both sides.