MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur: Chavez sends “peace” message to Paraguayan Senate

President Hugo Chavez said he was hopeful the Paraguayan congress would vote for Venezuela to join Mercosur since Paraguay is one of the countires to “most benefit” from such an incorporation.

“Let’s hope they approve it. It’s in their interest, Paraguay is one of the countries to most benefit”, said Chavez during a cabinet meeting of his financial and trade ministers.

The legislative branches from Argerntina, Uruguay and Brazil have already approved the adhesion protocols, but the Paraguayan congress remains contrary to such a vote “as long as Chavez is president of Venezuela”, according to the president of the Senate which is in the hands of the opposition.

Last August Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo had to withdraw the proposal since he did not have the sufficient votes in the Senate. The Venezuelan president had a verbal exchange with the Senators calling them “representatives of the Paraguayan oligarchy” that has exploited the country “for decades”.

Chavez said that the Brazilian vote last week in Congress was a “challenge” for Venezuela which will be needing a strong financial and banking system to face the new situation.

The meeting of the financial cabinet took place 48 hours after the government decided to consolidate in an only institution, --Bicenentennial Bank--, made up of four banks (out of eight small banks) that had to be intervened becuse of their exposure and mismanagement.

Meantime in Brazil the ripples of last week’s vote in the Upper House continue and an influential opposition Senator from the Foreign Affairs committee, Eduardo Azeredo forecasted that only “turbulence” can be expected from Hugo Chavez incorporation.

“Instead of integration, we are going to see disintetration”, said Senator Azeredo.

He insisted Mercosur already has too many problems and is not up to expectations.

“There we have Argentina: our manin trade partner in the region that has opted to replace us for China”, claimed Azeredo.

The Senate president and close ally of President Lula da Silva, Jose Sarney was also critiical of the incorporation vote. “I’ve always argued that Venezuela is a headache for all Mercosur country members”, and besides President Chavez “does not abide to the democratic clause”, as demanded by the block’s charter.

“This is but another mistake of Brazilian foreign policy, by introducing Chavez’ Venezuela we only confirm a confused policy and full or errors, such has been the case of Honduras”, underlined Azeredo.