MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay insists it does recognize Venezuela as a full member of Mercosur

An instruction on the issue was sent to all government offices and legations said Minister Loizaga

Paraguay as full member and in full exercise of that condition does not recognize Venezuela as president or full member of the group, according to a communiqué sent to all of Paraguay’s ministries and overseas representations.

“We have sent a communiqué to all ministries, secretariats and other offices requesting them not to make any decision that imply the recognition of Venezuela in Mercosur”, revealed this week Foreign minister Eladio Loizaga.

He added that the reference instruction is so that at all government’s instances, there is a serious, coherent and coordinated policy in foreign affairs.

Loizaga added that any statement from any government office not aware in depth of the situation “we are currently managing on that issue can put us in a delicate and contradictory position”.

Paraguay considered illegal its suspension from Mercosur and the incorporation of Venezuela as full member of the group in June 2012, which were decided following the incident of the removal of former president Fernando Lugo by the Paraguayan senate.

The removal was done according to the Paraguayan constitution, with an overwhelming vote and with Lugo’s acceptance of the result.

The landlocked country Mercosur suspension was lifted when the new elected president Horacio Cartes took office 15 August, although Asunción has decided to take its time and has made several requests to the remaining members on the matter.

However the Unasur return, from which it was also suspended in June 2012, was immediate on 15 August and President Cartes attended the group’s summit in Suriname.

However Loizaga admits that Paraguay can’t be isolated from Mercosur and that the programmed visits by President Cartes to neighbouring countries will help to advance in the dialogue for the return of the country to the block.