[NYTr] Correa: MERCOSUR and Andean Community Should Be One

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


MERCOSUR and Andean Community Should Be One, Said Correa

Havana, Aug 17 (acn) Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa, suggested 
Thursday that the South Common Market (Mercosur) and the Community of 
Andean Nations (CAN) should join in favor of 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, reported Granma newspaper.

During conversations with his Uruguayan counterpart Tabare Vazquez in 
Quito, Correa said based on the current trends towards integration 
going on in the region, the two blocks should merge into one.

Vazquez said "Ecuador is welcome to participate in both the 
Mercosur-leading process for regional integration and in the accords it 
maintains with CAN," said Correa who added that he hopes that Unasur 
consolidates.

Vasquez said Ecuador deserves to be part of Mercosur "because of 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 Wednesday evening in Quito, emphasized that  
integration process should be between the peoples who want to see Latin 
America as a "great homeland," reported PL.