VENEZUELAN MEMBERSHIP MARKS MERCOSUR EXPANSION

Brasilia, September 6 (PL)- Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota reiterated the importance of Venezuela´s entry into the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and said that event marks the bloc´s interest in expanding to the whole region.

"We think Venezuela´s entry into MERCOSUR carries a very important economic and commercial element, as it is the fourth South American economy and it has many developed areas," said Patriota in a public hearing of the Chamber of Deputies´ Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

He recalled that Caracas´ membership of MERCOSUR, which groups Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela and Paraguay (now suspended), was adopted by consensus in the summit of the regional bloc held in Mendoza, Argentina, in June, and its official entry occurred on July 31 in Brasilia.

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