Correa calls for the fusion of MERCOSUR and CAN

Quito, 16 ago (translated from Prensa Latina)
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa called for a merger of the South Common Market (Mercosur) and the Community of Andean Nations (CAN) on Thursday to further the integration of the South American continent.

Ecuador plans "to continue being an associated member of Mercosur and strengthen the Unity of South American Nations (Unasur) to overcome the existing mercantilist division in political and economic matters," said Correa.

During conversations with his Uruguayan counterpart Tabare Vazquez in Quito, Correa said that the current approach is far-reaching and comprehensive and as such, the South American people need to unify these two blocs.

Vázquez indicated that "Ecuador has a permanent invitation to, and is welcome to participate in the process of regional integration of, MERCORSUR, and with the agreements that maintain with the CAN", it hopes that it is managed to consolidate the UNASUR.

He emphasized that Ecuador deserves to be part of MERCOSUR "due to its geographic location and for the long history of work, suffering and joy of our peoples who seek to become a free and sovereign nation."

Vasquez, who arrived in Quito on Wednesday evening, stressed that the integration process must take place between peoples who want to see Latin America as a "great homeland."

For that reason, he said, Latin America cannot resign itself to work only with it has now, “nor to forget our people, professionals and technicians who we often lose because they leave for countries in the developed world”.

Neither must we forget biotechnological fusion, clean energy to replace fossil fuels, which constitutes the weaponry of the South American Union, he said.