Brasília - Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, declared that the postponement of the Free Trade Area of the Americas negotiating meeting for a month was not negative. He explained it was not possible to reach an agreement in preliminary discussions. An agreement was close but more time was needed for consultations, he said. "So it was not considered a good idea to hold the Puebla meeting at this time. By moving it ahead we will all be on firmer ground," said the minister.

According to the Argentine newspaper, "El Clarin," the decision to postpone the Puebla meeting, scheduled for March 18 and 19, was made at a meeting of deputy foreign ministers of South American nations, representing Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, plus associate members Bolivia and Chile) and the Andean Community (Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela).

The Puebla meeting has been rescheduled for April 22 and 23. The South American deputy foreign ministers will meet informally between March 31 and April 1. (AB)