Venezuela: uma "guerra civil" no Mercosul - David Fleischer

Do boletim semanal de David Fleischer, 8 de Julho de 2016:
(creio que o Congresso paraguaio aprovou, a partir do governo atual, o ingresso da Venezuela no Mercosul).
Paulo Roberto de Almeida 

Mercosul

            On 5^th July, Foreign Minister José Serra and former President Fernando H. Cardoso traveled to Montevideo to meet with Uruguayan leaders – President Tabaré Vázquez, Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa, former President Júlio Maria Sanguinetti and Minister of Economics & Finance Danilo Angel Astori Saragosa. 

            The main objective of this visit was to “negotiate” the rotation of the presidency of Mercosul set to occur at the next bi-annual meeting of the five Mercosul nations, scheduled for 11^th July (next Monday) in Montevideo.  The “problem” is that by six-month rotation, Venezuela would assume the Mercosul presidency – but Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina question this rotation. 

            Last month, Paraguay requested an emergency Mercosul meeting to suspend Venezuela’s membership in Mercosul because of violations of the “Democracy Clause” in Mercosul’s bylaws.  Remember:  Paraguay was suspended back in 2012 after the 48-hour impeachment of then President Fernando Lugo.

            Now the questions raised by Brazil and Argentina include other “problems” – comply with Venezuela’s adhesion document (in 2012): 1) The Mercosul customs agreement (ACE-18); 2) The protocol regarding the free trade of services; 3) Has not participated in the Mercosul free trade negotiations with the EU; and 4) Has not adopted the “Residency Accord” that guarantees the free transit and residency of citizens of all Mercosul nations.  Serra stressed that Brazil’s position was between that of Paraguay -- total opposition to Venezuela (the Paraguayan congress never ratified Venezuela’s inclusion in Mercosul – and that of Uruguay (total support for Venezuela).

            During his trip to Europe, Argentine President Mauricio Macri said that he was against Venezuela assuming the Mercosul presidency on 11^th July and favored two alternatives: 1) Argentina (the next on rotation after Venezuela) assume the Mercosul presidency in July 2016; or 2) that Uruguay continue occupying the Mercosul presidency until December 2016. 

            Since 2011, the internal trade flows among Mercosul members have declined by -37%.

            As might be expected the Venezuelan response was quite “violent” in its attacks on Brazil’s “illegitimate” government and its interim Foreign Minister, José Serra.

                      Mercosul meeting next Monday!!!

SEE:

http://internacional.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,serra-e-fhc-viajam-ao-uruguai-para-evitar-que-venezuela-lidere-o-mercosul,10000061190

http://www.newsjs.com/url.php?p=http://g1.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2016/07/brasil-defende-adiar-posse-da-venezuela-na-presidencia-do-mercosul.html

http://www.newsjs.com/url.php?p=http://www.brasil247.com/pt/247/mundo/242325/Chanceler-venezuelana-Serra-age-de-forma-insolente-e-amoral.htm

http://oglobo.globo.com/economia/impasse-sobre-venezuela-acentua-paralisia-do-mercosul-19661191