Argentina: Tucuman celebrates MERCOSUR and Social Summits (Updated II)

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Argentina: Tucuman celebrates MERCOSUR and Social Summits

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Updates: On Tuesday 1 July 2008. As expected, Presidents attending the Mercosur Summit rejected the EU return policy. It stated it was a xenophobic policy. In a related event, Uruguayan journalist Eduardo Galeano was recognized as a MERCOSUR honorary Citizen. Galeano have written many history books on Latin America from an anti colonialist and dependency theory points of view. His most meaningful book is called  Open Veins of Latin America.

Earlier on Tuesday 1 July 2008, Argentinian President, Cristina Fernandez, inaugurated the XXXV Mercosur Summit. Presidents started debating over regional  needs. President Fernandez stated that integration was a strategic need for the region. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke of American military presence, the need to create a regional monetary fund, food sovereignty and energy crisis. Brazilian President Lula da Silva proposed a regional meeting to analyse the effects of current food and energy crisis.  Brazil will take over the rotating Mercosur presidency from Argentina. Uruguay President Tavare Vazquez proposed the creation of a solidarity fund. A final declaration which was negotiated last night by Mercosur Foreign Ministers will be published later today.

Later on Monday 30 June 2008, Mercosur asked world leader for completion of Doha negotiations by a balanced agreement that takes into account Third World interests too.  Individual countries have also expressed their opposition to the new EU immigration or "return" policy.  There is much expectation about the  abandonmentof US dollars as the currency used for Brazilian and Argentinian commercial exchanges. Such decision might be announced tomorrow. Mercosur would adopt the use of local currency as payment for commercial transactions.

Caracas, Venezuela, 30 June 2008. Today, there will be two international summits in Tucucam, Northern Argentina. One is devoted to intergovernmental XXXV Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) summit. This gathering of the Regional Trade Agreement would be attended by Presidents of both state members -Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay  - and associates -Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela  - to MERCOSUR. It is expected, there will be a debate on EU return immigration policy and regional trade issues. According to Clarin, the hottest issue would be the little progress achieved in the last six months over the creation of a common regional tariff. Bank of the South and the removal of passport controls within the region would also be discussed today.

Simultaneously, regional activists will gather at their alternative Social Summit. This would be chaired by Argentinian chief of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo movement which opposed and protested the disapearance of their children during military dictatorships. 800 representatives of regional NGOs are expected to discuss urgent regional problems and propose solutions to the Mercosur presidents. According to Telam, food security and sovereignty to end hunger would be a priority in the discussions of the Social Summit.   

PS:Presidents of Ecuador and Colombia would not be attending the meeting. Both countries have pending issues to resolve in their suspended diplomatic relations. It also emerged that Peru President, Alan Garcia, would not be attending the meeting either.

More news to come.

Sources: Telesur, Mercosur ,YVKE, Telam, Cronista, Clarin, Buenos Aires Herald, Página 12, Unionradio,

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