Rousseff highlights ties between MERCOSUR and other blocs
President Dilma Rousseff underscored today the key role of the commercial relations between the Latin American group of countries and other blocs around the globe. 
During the opening meeting of the 48th Summit of MERCOSUR Heads of State and Associated States, President Dilma Rousseff underscored today the key role of the commercial relations between the Latin American group of countries and other blocs around the globe. Her speech made particular reference to the latest MERCOSUR-EU talks on zero-tariff agreements.
“This crisis must not serve to impose trade barriers between us. It should strengthen our integration and solidarity. We must also seek commercial deals with other countries,” the president declared.
Rousseff went on to say that Brazil and Europe have laid down the terms for trade expansion. “I'm sure the search for new markets will continue under the next [MERCOSUR] president.”
Brazil is expected to hand over the reins of MERCOSUR to Paraguay, which should head the bloc for the next six months.
After remarking that “democracy is blooming” in South America, a region which has “suffered severely under dictatorships”, Rousseff mentioned the presidential ballot held last year in Brazil and Uruguay, and the election to take place this year in Argentina.
“Holding such elections on a regular basis demonstrates skill at tackling political differences. We must keep treading this path. There's no room for anti-democratic adventures in South America.”
While talking about the upcoming elections in Argentina, the Brazilian president felt emotional as she noted that this year's summit marks President Cristina Kirchner's last attendance as a head of state at the event.
“We're all witness to how firmly and democratically she led her country—how she took up the cause of South American integration and how she offered support to the countries in the region,” Rousseff said before a round of applause.
During the meeting, Rousseff conferred on former Brazilian President João Belchior Marques Goulart, also known as Jango, the title of Illustrious Citizen of MERCOSUR. Jango was deposed in 1964. In 2013, the National Congress held a ceremony in which his removal was symbolically revoked. “This tribute is an effort to reconcile memory and history. It is the acknowledgment of the consistent and engaged trajectory of this Brazilian man,” Rousseff said.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Rousseff highlights ties between MERCOSUR and other blocs
