Brasília, 5/6/2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA) has eight member countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Guiana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, and was formed 25 years ago. This week a new secretary general took office urging the group to pay special attention to water resource management and announcing the creation of a US$30 million program to deal with the problem.

The new secretary general, Rosália Arteaga, of Ecuador, declared that the Amazon should be an area of integration. She called for member nations to agree on a common agenda and draw up compatible legislation to protect local inhabitants and their culture in an effort to create a community of Amazon nations.

Brazilian Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim, declared that the moment is propitious for talks on regional integration as Mercosur and the Andean Community prepare to sign an important cooperation agreement.

Translator: Allen Bennett