MERCOSUR Reviews Venezuelan Pro Tempore Presidency

Caracas, May 13, 2014 (PL).- Representatives of member countries of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) met in this capital to discuss aspects about Venezuela's performance as pro tempore president of the bloc, the Foreign Ministry reported yesterday.

According to the source, the coordinators discussed the economic, social and political rules envisaged for the completion of Caracas' performance at the helm of MERCOSUR.

The leaders of the delegations also discussed the next Presidential Summit of member countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela) and the subsequent handover of Caracas' presidency.

Venezuelan sociopolitical coordinator, Luis Laya, informed that this is the first meeting of the decision-making body of the Pro Tempore Presidency of Venezuela, attended by Paraguay (which had been suspended in the wake of the constitutional coup against Fernando Lugo in 2012) in order to continue promoting and strengthening South American unity.

This body discusses the regulations proposed by relevant instances, which are later brought to the Common Market Council to adopt the decisions of greater importance.

The Council is made up of ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy of member countries.