From: Gerald Levy (Gerald_A_Levy@msn.com)
Date: Tue May 27 2008 - 08:51:02 EDT
"The countries that make up UNASUR are Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, and Uruguay, encompassing a total population of 380 million inhabitants." +++ "South American Nations Form New Regional Grouping: UNASUR" May 24th 2008, by James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com Mérida, May 24, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- At a summit in Brasilia, Brazil, on Friday, 12 South American countries formally constituted the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), a regional integration initiative which began informally in 2004. At the Summit, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Colombian President Álvaro Uribe shook hands respectfully, and Colombia remained the only country which declined to participate in the proposed South American Defense Council. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez described UNASUR as the culmination of the region's search for unity since South American independence two centuries ago. "Only in unity will we later have, progressively, complete political, economic, cultural, scientific, technological, and military independence," Chávez commented. [...] The temporary president of UNASUR, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, said the new grouping will help the region "contribute to the construction of this new 21st century, where Latin America is capable of having a strong and firm voice because we have been able to initiate a process of effective integration." Bachelet highlighted the potential for UNASUR to promote economic and social development in the region. At the top of the organization's agenda should be combating poverty, eradicating illiteracy, and coordinating university programs so as to facilitate the movement of professionals throughout the region, she said. Also being contemplated is a regional citizenship. Having successfully formed UNASUR, "South America acquires the status of global actor," said the President of Brazil, Luis Inacio "Lula" da Silva. Lula assured that UNASUR is open to other Latin American countries in the region, and the foundational treaty signed Friday should not be perceived as "a finality." "Our Caribbean neighbors are invited to associate themselves with the union. UNASUR is born in this way, open to the entire region in the spirit of diversity and pluralism," said the Brazilian president. [...] Lula also emphasized his administration's proposal to create a South American Defense Council "founded on common values and principles such as respect for sovereignty, self-determination, territorial integrity of states, and non-intervention in internal affairs." Such a council will help UNASUR members "deepen our South American identity in the area of defense," Lula said, assuring that "our armed forces are committed to the construction of peace." The presidents at the summit agreed to form a commission that will come up with a proposal for the defense council within 90 days. The countries will then meet sometime in the second half of this year to officially form the council. <http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3488> _______________________________________________ ope mailing list ope@lists.csuchico.edu https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/ope
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