MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ecuador ratifies Mercosur “democratic clause”

Ushuaia where the democratic clause was agreed

Ecuador ratified this week support to Mercosur democratic commitment or “democratic clause” which automatically throws out any country member which violates such a commitment.

The ceremony took place at the Paraguayan Foreign Affairs ministry in Asunción, where the original Mercosur charter was agreed back in 1991.

The “democratic clause” is also identified as the Ushuaia Protocol where the initiative was turned into a compulsory demand for all country members and associates of Mercosur.

It was signed in July 1998 in the city of Ushuaia extreme south of Argentina during a presidential summit.

Ecuadorian ambassador Julio Prado Espina said his country supports the protocol because “we are seeing serious problems of instability in the region” and specifically referred to events in Honduras.

“For (Ecuadorian) President Rafael Correa democracy is a step which is in line with full confirmation of the people’s will that it is the only system by which all countries should transit”.

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez compliance or not with such a clause, as interpreted by the Legislative branches from Brazil and Paraguay is holding up Venezuela’s full membership of Mercosur.