MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela crucial to consolidate “energy front” says Cristina Kirchner

The Argentine president addressing the summit

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner underlined the significance of Venezuela as a full member of Mercosur which should enable the group to consolidate an energy front.

Addressing the Mercosur summit in Foz de Iguazú, Mrs. Kirchner said the incorporation of Venezuela, “besides its proven generosity, will also help to consolidate a strategic front in one of the most important resources of this century, energy”.

The Argentine president also emphasized the need for unity and indirectly criticized the Paraguayan congress for withholding a vote on Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur as a full member.

“We must practice the formula ‘unite and rule’ as opposed to ‘divide and rule’, and Argentina and Brazil know what we are talking about”, said Mrs Kirchner in direct reference to the decades-long rivalry between the two neighbouring countries.

“We must be sufficiently intelligent as not to fall again into the traps which our countries endured during the last 200 years. The model we have chosen is unity and rule, those of us who have the responsibility of conducting our countries’ affairs”.

At the summit Venezuela was represented by Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro since President Hugo Chavez decided to remain in Caracas coordinating efforts given the intense rains and flooding that has left thousands homeless.

Paraguayan Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata pointed out that the Executive is not responsible for the Senate’s refusal to vote on Venezuela’s incorporation.