MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay rejects Mercosur decisions involving Bolivia and Uruguay

President Franco considers Paraguay’s suspension ‘arbitrary and illegal’

Paraguay rejected the incorporation of Bolivia to Mercosur which took place on Friday at the summit in Brasilia and criticized the fact Uruguay accepted the group’s chair for the next six months skipping Paraguay, currently suspended from the regional organization.

In a release the Paraguayan Foreign ministry said that the incorporation of Bolivia is ‘illegal and void’ since it does not comply with the procedures established in the Mercosur charter.

According to article 20 of the 1991 Mercosur founding Asuncion Treaty the approval of the incorporation of new members to the group must be done with the unanimous decision of all members.

The ‘arbitrary and illegal’ suspension of Paraguay from the block has impeded the country from participating in these decisions despite the explicit statement of Article 20.

Likewise the passing over to Uruguay of the pro-tempore chair of Mercosur which also took place on Friday in Brasilia, according to Paraguay is “a clear transgression of Mercosur institutions”.

“This action violates Article 12 of the Asuncion Treaty which establishes the mandatory rotation of the Common Market Council presidency by alphabetical order and every six months”, and in this opportunity it was Paraguay’s turn.

Paraguay was suspended from Mercosur and Unasur last June following the removal of Fernando Lugo and his replacement by Vice President Federico Franco.