Argentina as a chair of Mercosur: priority is the trade accord with European Union; Venezuela not included

Argentina's priority as chair of Mercosur which officially took over this week will be to advance negotiations with the European Union for a wide ranging trade agreement which will not include Venezuela, anticipated foreign minister Susana Malcorra .

“One of the most important issues for Mercosur, if not the most pressing are negotiations with the European Union. This is a priority and Venezuela has always being absent of these talks” pointed out the Argentine minister before the Mercosur chair-taking ceremony with Brazil's, Paraguay's and Uruguay's Foreign ministers on Wednesday. Malcorra also said she met that day for over an hour with Venezuelan Foreign minister, Delcy Rodriguez, who expected to participate in the meeting.

“We explained to the minister that there was no invitation extended to her country to attend” the XIth Extraordinary meeting of the Mercosur Council, while Rodriguez made it plain clear that “Venezuela rejected the arguments of the decision suspending” her country.

Malcorra and Rodriguez were later joined by Uruguay's Nin Novoa and Bolivia's foreign minister David Choquehuanca who arrived in Buenos Aires with the Venezuelan minister early dawn Wednesday. “It was an open frank dialogue with notorious interpretation differences” admitted Malcorra while Rodriguez said she was demanding respect for Venezuela.

Not ignoring the fact that the suspension of a country member is something very serious, (in reference to Venezuela), Malcorra insisted that what must be ensured is that the four founding members of the group advance on a common agenda.

Venezuela was suspended from Mercosur last December first when the three months timetable for the regime of president Nicolas Maduro to incorporate rules and rulings of the block was up and non complied, particularly those referred to trade and human rights. However Venezuela has rejected the suspension and argues it was motivated on political grounds.

Nevertheless Malcorra was optimistic about Venezuela's return to Mercosur, once it complies with all basic commitments particularly on trade and human rights.

”Tomorrow (Thursday), Venezuela will begin to implement the mechanism to solve controversies contemplated in the Olivos Protocol“, said Macorra, who despite admitting the ”enormous differences between Venezuela and Mercosur founding members, I'm optimistic“.

Malcorra finally informed that Argentina has taken the pro tempore chair of Mercosur for the next six months and revealed that she was decided to actively promote the block to other markets and conform integrated negotiation teams to jointly address the issues of Mercosur agenda.

”Our top priority is to move forward with current negotiations for a free trade accord with the EU, and to advance in other options with Japan, India, Canada, China and the US”.

Supposedly the handing over of the Mercosur chair on Wednesday should put an end to the controversial period, which had three members decisively willing to condemn Venezuela, while Uruguay, whose ruling coalition is divided on the issue had a more hesitant, foot dragging attitude. Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, has demanded to have a personal meeting with Uruguay's Tabare Vázquez as soon as possible on the matter.

Source: Mercopress Agency