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Mercosur representatives to meet for resolution to presidency impasse

Xinhua, August 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay will meet in Montevideo Tuesday to discuss the issue of the rotating presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), contentiously taken on by Venezuela, the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry announced Monday.

"The representative of Venezuela has been invited to avoid any type of discrimination or exclusion. We will analyze the report, presented by the Administrative Secretariat of Mercosur, concerning whether obligations have been met," said Eladio Loizaga at a press conference in Asuncion, Paraquay.

He added that no confirmation had been received from Venezuela as to its attendance.

Venezuela has declared it took over the presidency from Uruguay on July 30. However, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay refuse to accept this, saying Venezuela's economic crisis, its alleged move away from democracy and non-compliance with Mercosur norms prevent it from running the bloc.

Aug. 13 was the deadline for Venezuela to be sworn into its duties and for it to comply with a number of Mercosur's legal norms, including the bloc's human rights standards and tariff regulations.

Loizaga added that Mercosur's presidency "is not being exercised by Venezuela...as we are at an impasse."

The representatives will try to find a way to break this gridlock on Tuesday.

Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay have proposed that a collective committee with members from all countries run the bloc until January, when Argentina will take over, but Uruguay and Venezuela have ruled this out. Enditem