
Paraguay declared “entirely unacceptable” statements from Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota who said that the April 2013 elections are “only an important step to re-examine” the country’s suspension from Unasur and Mercosur. Patriota’s statement was supported by Argentina.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder in Paraguay of human rights defender Vidal Vega, leader of the Campesinos sin Tierra movement (Landless Campesinos) and president of the Committee of Relatives of Victims of the Curuguaty Massacre and urges the State of Paraguay to investigate and clear up these crimes, and punish those who perpetrated and masterminded them.

The head of the Organization of Americas States, OAS electoral observers’ mission said that Federico Franco was the legitimate democratic president of Paraguay committed to holding transparent elections next April, elections which nobody in the world questions.

The Paraguayan economy is poised to expand 11.3% next year propped by the strong recovery from agriculture according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers, an estimate far more optimist than the 9.5% of the government budget.

The Paraguayan congress was strongly supported at the Latinamerican Parliament, Parlatino, which during the XXVIII ordinary session voted against an Argentine motion to have it suspended.

Paraguay complained bitterly Unasur (Union of South American Nations) decision to confirm the suspension of the country from the group until next April 2013 when elections are scheduled. The decision was described as a ‘systematic persecution’ and ‘interventionism’ of Paraguay, which is contrary to basic principles enshrined in the UN charter.

The Organization of American States, OAS, is sending a top electoral observation official to Paraguay to sponsor national political dialogue and make preparations for the OAS mission that will be following the electoral process leading to elections.

Brazilian Executive special advisor on International Affairs, Marco Aurelio Garcia anticipated that at the coming summit in Lima, the Union of South American Nations, Unasur, would not lift the suspension on Paraguay which will hold until April’s election.

Paraguayan president Federico Franco announced on Monday that starting on 2013 the country will become an oil producing nation, after a recent discovery close to the border with Argentina.

Unasur special envoy Salomon Lerner said he returns to Peru with “a good impression” of the Paraguayan electoral process and the overall situation of the country.