MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mujica calls CELAC “a second independence” but warns beware of dogmatism

The Uruguayan president admits integration “is not round the corner”

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica described the newly formed CELAC as a strong step towards the Americas ‘second independence’ and its integration process.

Addressing the CELAC summit of 33 Latin American and Caribbean nations (specifically excluding the US and Canada), Mujica said that “integration is not round the corner or at the reach of the hand, but it is a major challenging feat of our times”.

“Where have we seen that a second independence can be achieved so easily?” asked Mujica in reference to the bicentennial emancipation celebration of Latinamerica peoples and the Caracas CELAC initiative.

“If 200 years ago we had determining historic reasons, they also exist today”, added the Uruguayan leader who argued it is the only ‘possible path’ in a world that has changed ‘dramatically’ and demands a ‘historic union’.

Mujica also underlined the importance for governments to transmit and involve the people with the integration spirit so it doesn’t become ‘but a leaf in the wind’.

“In these conditions the need to get together comes imposed by the facts of history and the only way is to unite and this is not a struggle after utopia”, he insisted.

Latin America has formidable opportunities and resources which “fit naturally in a world with trade relations undergoing abrupt changes”.

But Mujica also cautioned that integration must be done “without falling into dogmatism and with inclusion and with respect for all, be it from the right, centre or left”

Finally he considered it would be necessary to create Secretariat for CELAC so it can address all the issues considered at the summit.