MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela’s Chavez confirms participation of Mercosur summit in Argentina

President Chavez is a close friend of the Kirchner couple

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez office has confirmed he will be participating of the coming Mercosur presidential summit scheduled for next August 3 in San Juan, north of Argentina when the rotating chair of the block will be passing from Buenos Aires to Brasilia.

In spite of the conflict with Colombia, and in spite of the latest events including severing relations with Bogotá, “Chavez will join the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay”, said sources from the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry and the Venezuelan embassy in Buenos Aires.

Apparently the Venezuelan leader will be arriving directly to the northern province of San Juan Monday evening in time for the official dinner hosted by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Venezuela is an associate member of Mercosur and has applied to become full member. The 2006 incorporation request has been approved by the legislative branches of Argentina, Uruguay, last year by Brazil and only Paraguay is pending.

However since Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo does not have the sufficient votes in Congress he is currently involved in a major review of the ruling coalition including opposition groups that could open the way for the issue to be debated and approved by the Senate.

Last week Chavez broke relations with Colombia following claims by Bogotá before the Organization of American States that Venezuelan territory is refuge for 1.500 guerrillas from the FARC and ELN “terrorist groups”.