Puerto Iguazú (Argentina), July 9, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Addressing the 26th Mercosur Summit Meeting, yesterday (8), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for flexibility to overcome disagreements among the economic bloc's member countries. "Flexibility was and continues to be necessary to meet demands stemming from disagreements among the member States," he affirmed.

According to the President, in order to strengthen the customs union and construct the common market envisioned in the Assunción Treaty, which created the Mercosur, it is essential to deepen and expand the bloc in such areas as services and government purchases. For President Lula, the development of the Mercosur cannot be solely in national terms; it must have a regional dimension.

"Brazil's prosperity has to be the prosperity of our partners in the region. The Brazilian economy has entered the phase of solid growth. Conditions are in place to expand exchange and cooperation with our neighbors," he affirmed.

After praising the leadership exercised by Argentina, which occupied the temporary presidency of the Mercosur during the past six months, he recalled that, after 10 years of negotiations, the bloc is moving in the direction of integration with the Andean countries. "What seemed impossible is happening. The Mercosur is not indifferent to our Latin America," he remarked.

Lula expressed his satisfaction with the participation of Mexican President, Vicente Fox, in the encounter, and he said that he awaits that country's speedy entry into the bloc as an associate. Chile, Bolivia, and Peru are already associated members. Mexico's entry still depends upon negotiations. Lula also highlighted the presence of Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez, at the event.

The President mentioned the negotiations in which the Mercosur is engaged with India, South Africa, Egypt, China, and Japan, and he declared that Brazil is assuming command of the Mercosur with a sense of "responsibility and urgency."

For Lula, the Mercosur is more than just a project for the negotiation of tariffs and free trade among the member countries. He said that the bloc must take advantage of new and advanced fields of knowledge. "In this respect, Brazil is willing to share with its Mercosur partners the benefits it derives from nuclear energy and space exploration."

Reporter: Carolina Pimentel
Translator: David Silberstein