MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mujica calls on other Latinamerican countries to join Mercosur

The Uruguayan president (R) and Pte Lula da Silva

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica called on the Mercosur summit for a quick incorporation of Venezuela as full member of the group and said it was time the rest of Latin America moved closer to the integration process.

“We need Venezuela inside Mercosur and the rest of Latin America to move closer. This (Mercosur) project is just beginning”, said Mujica addressing the leaders summit in Foz de Iguazu, Brazil.

Venezuela’s incorporation is pending since 2006 when it was first requested by President Hugo Chavez. Since then the legislative branches from Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil supported the initiative which now only depends on the Paraguayan Congress.

But Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo’s weakened coalition has been unable to push the proposal through congress, the latest attempt this month, but a positive vote could be forthcoming during the first quarter of 2011.

Mujica admitted that Mercosur has a heavy burden of “silly suspicions” born out of “historic limitations” from the region but that is the “challenge”: to keep advancing in the integration process and become a world heavy weight.

“The integration phenomenon needs great tolerance and political opening. What is at stake for us is the path to a possible freedom”, underlined the Uruguayan president.

Mujica praised the role displayed by Brazil as a spokesperson for the region at global level and described president Lula da Silva as South America’s “plenipotentiary” ambassador in the world stage.

“For the first time we’ve had a country that has decided to go out into the world arena and that is one of our great merits and also great challenge. Brazil must be aware of that responsibility and we have to surround and support Brazil in that task”, said Mujica.

Although stepping down in a few days, “President Lula has many cards to play” both with the integration process and projecting Latin America in the world.

Mujica anticipated a great future for the region since the best potential for market development is in the “millions in Latin America who live in poverty” and with whom our countries have a “colossal debt”.

“Sooner or later the world will look this way”, added Mujica who forecasted that Latin America’s natural resources will be crucial in the future.

Mujica said that integration advances achieved during the last decade “should not be a balm” but a spur to continue with the process and economic development.

“We must grow inside the group to as to achieve the redemption of the poor and their incorporation to society”, concluded the Uruguayan leader.