MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lifting Mercosur out of its “institutional paralysis”, Rousseff’s main challenge

Brazilian Foreign Affairs minister, Celso Amorim wouldn’t mind staying on the job

Consolidating South American integration would be the main foreign policy priority of the Brazilian ruling party presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff if public opinion polls are confirmed at the ballot box next October 3 and she emerges as the successor of Lula da Silva.

“In the framework of strengthening regional relations, lifting Mercosur out of its current ‘institutional paralysis’ and consolidating Unasur (Union of South American Nations) are the priorities” said Lula da Silva’s foreign policy advisor Marco Aurelio García in an interview with Folha de Sao Paulo.

“The union of Latinamerican countries is considered both by President Lula and Rousseff as the essential instrument to increase the region’s weight and presence in the global stage”, said Foreign Secretary Celso Amorim, who also participated in the interview with García.

“Brazil is a large country, destined to have a strong presence in the world. But in economic-trade affairs the great issues of the XXIst century will involve large blocks. Latinamerica or at least South America can and must be a block with a greater weight, a heavy-weight”, added Amorim.

He coincided with García that lifting Mercosur out of its current “institutional paralysis” and consolidating Unasur are the main challenges of Brazilian foreign policy.

When asked if he would continue as Foreign Affairs minister if Rousseff is elected next October, Amorim did not discard any possibility. However Ms Rousseff has dismissed any discussions or speculation about a future cabinet, until after ballot day.

Amorim has been in the post since January first 2002 when Lula da Silva took office for the first time, and feels his cycle “has been accomplished”. Nevertheless he admitted “nobody can be so arrogant as to say that I don’t want to collaborate (with the next president); if I am asked to advice, I think I can do so”.