Mercosur will address the issue of Ecuador’s entrance

Current members of the Mercosur. From left to right, president Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), president Dilma Rousseff (Brazil), president Jose Mujica (Uruguay) and president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (Argentina).

Today began the XLIV Presidential Summit of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur for its Spanish acronym) in Brasilia (Brazil).

The Summit will address various topics within its busy schedule, including the process of incorporation of Venezuela and the possible entry of Bolivia and Ecuador.

Venezuela was incorporated to Mercosur in July over the decision made by the three presidents of the group (Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay), and its entry came into force in August.

Paraguay, who’s Senate opposed the entry of Caracas, did not participate in the decision or the summit because is suspended of the block since the dismissal of Fernando Lugo from the Presidency in June.

The Brazilian coordinator, Antonio Jose Ferreira Simoes, said, “the conditions that led to the suspension were not overcome. The Unasur already presented its position on that matter, so the issue of Paraguay will only be discussed at the Summit of Mercosur if someone chooses to. ” (MZ)