MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mrs. Kirchner underlines Mercosur economies ‘very good’ performance

The Argentine president makes a toast for integration

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said Monday evening that the Mercosur Summit “arrives at a very special time in the world economy, especially in all of South America, which has had a very satisfactory performance”.

“We're very happy to receive you all here,” in San Juan, where “the emerging economies have had a very favourable conduct and performance” host Mrs. Kirchner addressed her counterparts.

Mrs. Kirchner spoke during a dinner held at the Antigua Bodega restaurant in the San Juan province capital, attended by the Heads of State and other officials that are to participate in the second day of the 39th Mercosur Summit.

She stated that “the strengthening of Mercosur should be one of the goals to be achieved,” and she said that “it's a destiny that we want and should build as actors of a new world reality.”

Mrs. Kirchner and her immediate collaborators received delegations of the countries already present in the first day of the summit. Bolivia’s Evo Morales and Uruguay’s Jose Mujica were the first foreign leaders to arrive in San Juan. For Mujica it’s the first time he participates in bloc's discussion, after taking office in March.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva arrived at 10:30 pm, while Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez confirmed through an embassy source he is not to attend. Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, and Chile, Sebastián Piñera, are scheduled to arrive on Tuesday.