Brasília, 12/9/2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, speaking at the closing of the XXIII Mercosur Council meeting, declared that the "Mercosur democracy clause is an essential element" in its statutes. Cardoso pointed out that Mercosur and the Andean Community are creating more than an economic block: there is a spirit of community, of understanding, firmly based on the principles of democracy, he explained. "We are engaged in a series of activities in different areas," said Cardoso. (AB)