Rio de Janeiro – Yesterday the Group of Rio Foreign Ministers put the finishing touches on the new South American Community of Nations organization which will be formally established on December 9 at their next meeting in Lima, Peru.

According to Brazil's Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim, the new institution will reinforce regional negotiating strength in international forums. "This is a step forward in Latin American integration and bargaining power, especially with other economic blocks," said Amorim, as he emphasized that regional integration remains a Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva adminstration priority.

Amorim went on to say that if such integration had taken place a few years ago he believes negotiations with the US (FTAA) and the EU would have been more successful. "I honestly believe that a united front, all of Latin America together, would have been very helpful in those negiotiations," declared Amorim.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Nielmar de Oliveira
Translator: Allen Bennett
11/5/2004