MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur plan to delay summit and give time to Paraguay to return with full rights

President Mujica from Uruguay that currently holds the Mercosur chair made the announcement from Madrid

Paraguay is considering the announcement made by Uruguayan president Jose Mujica who suggested delaying the coming Mercosur summit in Montevideo scheduled for the end of June, ‘to wait and give time for Paraguay’ (currently suspended) to return to the block.

“We will analyze the information and situation according to facts; we are looking at it very closely”, said Paraguayan foreign minister Jose Felix Fernandez Estigarribia on Friday when asked about Mujica’s statements in Madrid, where he is on a several-countries tour to promote trade and investment for Uruguay.
 

Mujica in a long breakfast interview with the Spanish government television was quoted saying that the Mercosur summit scheduled for June 28 could be delayed so that Paraguay can “access as it should” following the taking office of president-elect Horacio Cartes August 15.

Fernandez Estigarribia reiterated that the position of Paraguay for the return to Mercosur is crystal clear. “We have said it on repeated occasions, Paraguay must return to Mercosur as soon as possible but in full exercise of all its rights”.

A year ago at the Mercosur summit in Mendoza, Argentina, Paraguay was suspended following the Paraguayan congress impeachment of Fernando Lugo, by an overwhelming majority and according to the country’s constitution.

However Mercosur, and Unasur, interpreted the political decision as a ‘congressional coup’ and suspended Paraguay until the return of a legitimate elected president, thus not recognizing Federico Franco who had been inaugurated as president after Lugo accepted the congressional decision and stepped down.

Anyhow scheduled presidential elections were held last 15 April and Horacio Cartes was comfortably voted in, but nevertheless needs to build a coalition to ensure legislation. The catch is that he does not take office until August 15 and the Mercosur summit is scheduled for June 28 in Montevideo.

Mujica, since Uruguay holds the rotating chair of Mercosur made the announcement in Spain, a decision which apparently also has the green light from Brazil. In effect the president of the winning Colorado party, Lilian Samaniego was sent as an emissary from president-elect Cartes to Brasilia where she had a positive meeting with Gleisi Hoffmann, cabinet chief of President Dilma Rousseff.

Another irritating issue for which Paraguay is demanding respect and dignity is the fact that once Mercosur suspended Paraguay, it immediately voted for the incorporation of Venezuela as full member, which had been stalled for years because of the Paraguayan senate refusal to vote for a country under the leadership of Hugo Chavez, whom it considered did not have the necessary democratic credentials.

Furthermore during the events of June a year ago, then Foreign minister, and now president, Nicolas Maduro tried to convince the Paraguayan military commanders to take to the streets and prevent the political impeachment of the populist-leaning former bishop Lugo, a close ally of Chavez. His rallying was caught on tape ant the Paraguayan Senate and President Franco then declared Maduro ‘persona non grata’ for involvement in the internal affairs of Paraguay.

Under the Mercosur charter incorporations and removals must be unanimous, and Paraguay argues the decision on Venezuela was taken ignoring its absence.

However by delaying the summit and with a newly elected Senate in Paraguay and a possible coalition that includes representatives from the ousted Lugo’s small party, a way out to overcome differences is anticipated.

Furthermore Venezuelan president Maduro is expected to be invited to the inauguration of Cartes in Asuncion on 15 August, which is also seen as a positive attitude for the whole political institutional muddle created by the unprecedented suspension of one of the group’s full member.

A much respected Paraguayan diplomat and former ambassador to the United Nations, Eladio Loizaga pointed out that “Mujica’s words are very positive” and dialogue is the best tool to address difficulties.

“Dialogue is the tool that is claimed in a multilateral environment even in serious situations, to begin finding solutions. Mujica’s statement is a very good signal”, concluded Loizaga.