Venezuela might desist from joining Mercosur (updated)

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Caracas, Venezuela. During a TV intervention on 3 July 2007 and responding to Brazil's foreign minister, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said he will not apologize to the Brazilian congress as a condition for acceptance into the Mercosur trade bloc. Then, he warned Mercosur with a withdrawal if application to join Regional Trade Agreement is not approved within three months. He also criticized Brazilian Parliament for recent apposition to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Venezuela’s admission to Mercosur.

Acrimonious exchanges have taken place between Venezuela and Brazil. Members of Brazilian congress criticized Venezuelan cancellation of RCTV broadcasting license. .However, Chavez clarified today the real issue behind such criticism is Venezuelan unwillingness to give Brazil further commercial and tariff concessions. Uruguay congress has also shown some opposition to Venezuelan admission to Mercosur.President Chavez has just arived from an internation tour. He visited Russia, Belarus and Iran.

PS:  Brazil rejected Caracas deadline, but Paraguay sent Venezuelan Mercosur admission request to Parliament though. According to BBC, experts this Caracas move "puts further pressure on already strained relations in Mercosur". The opposition leads Paraguay Congress and Brazilian MPs have voiced anger at Chavez´ criticism over their stand on RCTV cancellation. Venezuelan opposition also expressed its condemnation at the ultimatum to Brazil and Paraguay.

There is a debate within 15-year-old Mercosur trade bloc over the overwhelming presence of Brazil and Argentina. According to Bilaterals.org., "Mercosur’s smallest members, Uruguay and Paraguay, complain that virtually all that growth is accounted for by bilateral trade between Brazil and Argentina, and that regional economic integration is not going anywhere". 

Sources: VTV, Unionradio, Washington Post, Telesur, Globovision BBC bilaterals.org El Mundo Dowjones