Venezuela Proposes to Consolidate Alliances for Productive Economy at Mercosur’s Council

December 21, 2015

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez proposed on Sunday at the council of ministers of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur), held in Asuncion, Paraguay, to strengthen partnerships with regional and emerging blocks to boost productive economies at the service of the nations.

She noted that Venezuela calls for the formation of a complementary economic zone with countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and BRICS consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

At the Mercosur Council of Ministers, she said that new bases “of productive integration of our economies, our models, our countries, our peoples” should emerge from this meeting.

“Mercosur is one of the world’s major economies, even ahead of countries with developed economies,” said the minister in her speech, according to the Twitter account of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry @vencancilleria.

Given the sharp drop in oil prices, Rodriguez reiterated the importance of integration and politics to avoid falling into what she calls “pragmatic despair”.

“We need to think about how to engage and articulate Mercosur in this time of global economic difficulty,” she said.

Therefore, she reiterated the proposal to establish Mercosur alliances with blocs like ALBA, CARICOM and the powerful emerging bloc, BRICS.

The foreign minister also stressed that South America is a land of peace, which is essential for the consolidation of alliances.

“We have to take care of this land of peace in a completely troubled world,” she urged.

She also welcomed Argentina’s chancellor Susana Malcorra, who after the electoral victory of Mauricio Macri, joins the group of foreign ministers of Mercosur.

The meeting of foreign ministers takes place prior to what will be this Monday, the 49th Summit of Heads of State of Mercosur, which will address issues of common interest.

The meetings on the eve of this summit started last December 17 with the participation of social organizations, who discussed advances and challenges of public policies related to economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.

Furthermore, this Saturday at the Special Meeting of the Mercosur group, representatives of member countries addressed norms related to trade negotiations, strengthening of economies and common relations.

Mercosur was created in March 1991 when Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay joined to form a block of regional integration to foster a common economic space. In 2012, Venezuela became a full member with the proposal to build a social Mercosur, with a development approach comprising the inclusion of peoples.

http://www.avn.info.ve/contenido/venezuela-proposes-consolidate-alliances-productive-economy-mercosur-summit

Source: Venezuelan News Agency