Foz do Iguaçu – Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Friday (17) that he is leaving the rotating presidency of the Mercosur and also the command of the Brazilian government pleased with the union reached by the bloc. The declarations were made during the press conference at the end of the 40th Summit of Heads of State of the Mercosur and Associated States, in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná.
"I leave the temporary presidency of the bloc and the presidency of Brazil feeling accomplished. I would thank God if, from now on, all of you (the other presidents) can do the same as we have done in recent years and that the people of the Mercosur may be proud of being part of the bloc," he said. Lula is handing the Brazilian presidency over to president elect Dilma Roussef on January 1st. The command of the South American bloc, in turn, will be in the hands of Paraguay for the coming six months.
Lula pointed out that a short while ago some countries thought that it was "not worth" being part of the Mercosur and that the current favourable situation of the bloc has modified this point of view of heads of state. "I believe that, today, none of us complains about being a member of the Mercosur, and that we are all thankful for having remained."
The president emphasized his wish that other South American countries become members of the bloc, which currently includes just Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. "I call for the future presidents of the bloc, those to run the Mercosur, to work tirelessly for us to bring Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Colombia in and for Paraguay (to head the block for the coming six months) to approve Venezuela, and to bring Peru and Guiana in. After all, the moment is right, it is extraordinary, we cannot forget this effort."
Lula addressed Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo, saying that he may count on the support of president Roussef to bring new members into the Mercosur and form "an economically strong bloc that is socially fair and teaches democracy to many people who do not know democracy."
Lugo answered that he is inaugurated as Mercosur president "with great optimism". "We currently have a Mercosur that is aware of its difficulties, but that eyes [the needs of] its members". The Paraguayan president also said he wishes for greater regional integration.
With regard to a possible post as secretary general of the United Nations (UN), Lula said he is not interest in the post. However, he pointed out that he should continue acting politically.
"I believe that the UN must be managed by someone technical, as it cannot be run by someone greater than the president of a nation. And I am concerned, because if it becomes a fad for countries to run the UN, soon the United States will be running not only the Security Council, but also the United Nations, and then it will all become very difficult."
"I am already very grateful for having been the president of Brazil. Now, aged 65, I am not going to stop. As a politician, I do politics, and I am going to continue doing politics wherever good politics is necessary," he finished off. Lula also spoke about his desire to take the social experience of Brazil to poorer countries, like those in Africa. "Brazil has extremely successful social policies, and I believe that this may serve as a basis for other countries."
*Translated by Mark Ament
