The government proposes the incorporation of Bolivia in Mercosur and the deepening of the agreements – Telam

The government proposes the incorporation of Bolivia in Mercosur

The action of the Argentine government in the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur in 2021 will target the incorporation of Bolivia into the bloc, the claim of Argentine sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and the deepening of trade negotiations and agreements.

This was reported to Telam by sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who indicated that, in addition, Argentina will be in charge, in this role, of organizing activities for the 30 years since the signing of the treaty that has gave birth to this regional coalition.

On December 16, Argentina received the Pro Tempore Presidency (PPT) of Mercosur, at the end of the period corresponding to Uruguay, and will exercise it during the first half of 2021.

According to the criteria set by President Alberto Fernández, Mercosur “is a state policy for Argentina” and therefore “the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work on different axes during the TPP”, they indicated.

In this context, the “Business Forum” will be relaunched, created by decision of the Common Market Council in 2012, which “should ensure a wide participation of public and private entities and trade associations interested in reviewing and evaluating Mercosur today and its future areas of development”. The Forum will focus on two central themes: agribusiness and digital services.

The two sectors “present great possibilities for further deepening productive integration”. It also stands out, according to spokespersons, “paying particular attention to the role of women in entrepreneurship and business management” in these areas.

In addition, the Forum will contribute to outstanding technical issues with the European Union (EU) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) “in the respective agreements subject to legal review,” they said.

Likewise, the government will seek the conclusion of negotiations for a Mercosur-Lebanon agreement and the deepening of the agreement with Israel, as well as the launch of talks with the countries of Central America and the Dominican Republic and will continue negotiations with the Canada, Korea and Singapore, which they are coordinated respectively by Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.

In this context, Argentina will seek to “propose to the partners to initiate an intra-Mercosur discussion for a strategy for Africa”, they indicated.

For the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, “Mercosur is the most important instrument according to the world”.

In his speech to the Common Market Council (CMC) meeting, Solá said that “Mercosur is according to the world the most important instrument, but also the most relevant political instrument over the past 30 years that the ‘Argentina had for outside its borders’.

For this reason, one of the salient points of the actions promoted by Argentina will be “the incorporation of Bolivia as a full member of Mercosur and its active participation in decision-making bodies and technical forums that contribute to its membership process “.

The issue of the Malvinas Islands will also be a priority on the agenda, and there the government “hopes that once again support for Argentina’s claim to sovereignty” over the archipelago will be ratified, said officials. spokesperson.

Then, it will promote the recognition of< droit de notre pays d'intenter une action en justice contre les activités non autorisées d'exploitation des ressources naturelles >> in the island region >>, reaffirming the terms of the Declaration of the Presidents of the States Parties of Mercosur, the Republic of Bolivia and the Republic of Chile, signed on June 25, 1996 in Potrero de los Funes, Argentine Republic “.

In addition, on March 26, 30 years after its creation, activities such as “ strengthening the citizenship status of Mercosur as a distinctive instrument of the four countries, which incorporates all the rights and distinctive elements that make up the identity of being a citizen ”of the bloc, they explained.