Patriota defends Venezuela’s admission as a full member and the suspension of Paraguay from Mercosur

The Brazilian Foreign Minister, Antonio Patriota, continues to defend Venezuela’s entry in Mercosur and the suspension of Paraguay from the bloc.

Last Wednesday (11), Patriota appeared in the Senate’s Committee for Foreign Relations and responded to criticism from parliamentarians who are contrary to the suspension of Paraguay and against the support given to Venezuela by Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

The minister reiterated that both decisions were adopted by common agreement between the three countries during the recent summit meeting, held in the Argentine city of Mendoza. “Paraguay will only be able to rejoin the bloc when it restores full democratic order.”

About Venezuela’s admission as a full member, which was strongly opposed by the Paraguayan Congress before the country was suspended, Patriota insisted that the country has a “strategic” economic and political importance to Mercosur.

“With Venezuela’s admission as a full member, Mercosur will extend itself from Patagonia to the Caribbean” said the minister, who highlighted Venezuela’s potential in the energy sector and its potential of “strengthening the networks of trade and investment” in the region.

According to Patriota, both the suspension of Paraguay and Venezuela’s entry were “difficult, but matured decisions, carefully adopted as to not affect the Paraguayan people” and “as a response to an unacceptable situation.”

The admission of Venezuela as a full member of Mercosur will be formalized at a special meeting to be held on June 31^st, in Rio de Janeiro.

Paraguay: Country files requirement against suspension from Mercosur

The government of Paraguay filed a requirement last week in the Permanent Court of Mercosur to restore its rights in the bloc, which were temporarily suspended, and also presented a complaint opposing the inclusion of Venezuela as a full member.

The government’s top legal officials presented the requirement to the Permanent Court, whose headquarter is located in Asuncion, as announced last week by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Félix Fernández Estigarribia.

The complaint included a protest ​​”against the suspension of Paraguay from the bloc and the declaration by which Venezuela was incorporated as a full member, both decisions contrary to the Treaty of Asuncion, the Protocol of Ouro Preto and the general rules of international law,” according to lawyer, Ernesto Velázquez.

Velazquez, who is part of the government’s legal team, ensured that Paraguay believes that “the aforementioned provisions are null and void” and that “they cannot have legal application and effectiveness.” Moreover, the lawyer points out that the government of Federico Franco, the rightful president since the former head of state, Fernando Lugo was removed by the Senate on June 22, demands the return of Paraguay’s rights within the block.

Velazquez insisted that Mercosur has violated its own resolutions like the “principle of legal equality between states” and “the principle of nonintervention.” He detailed the process, in a document of about 60 pages. All the judges of the Permanent Court, as well as the governments of member states have a deadline of 60 to 90 days to decide on the matter.

Uruguay: Mujica reiterates support to the inclusion of Venezuela in Mercosur

The president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, ratified the decision of his country to support the inclusion of Venezuela in Mercosur after the bloc approved the suspension of Paraguay from the group.

According to press reports, Mujica said that “while it is true that the proposal was elaborated in the first place by Brazil, we three agree (the presidents of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay), about Venezuela’s entry in the bloc”. The representative of Uruguay said “the political will involved in the case, far exceeds the possible legal impediments regarding the matter”.

Paraguay was suspended from the bloc after Fernando Lugo was deposed. The suspension led to the approval of Venezuela’s entry in the free-trade agreement. Before the events involving Lugo, Venezuela’s entry in Mercosur faced strong opposition by the Paraguayan Senate, while the lawmakers of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have long supported Venezuelan admission to the group.

Mercosur was formed in 1991 after signing of the so-called Treaty of Asuncion between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Brazil: Presidency denies pressure on Venezuela’s entry in Mercosur

The special advisor for international affairs of the Presidency, Marco Aurelio Garcia, denied that Brazil has pressed Mercosur countries to force Venezuela’s entry as a permanent member on the bloc.

In an interview for radio “El Espectador”, however, the Uruguayan foreign minister, Luis Almagro, said that “nothing is decided” and that “the country has not given the last word” on the whole process. According to Almagro, the intervention of President Rousseff was “decisive” for Venezuela’s entry.

Almagro’s statements surprised the Brazilian Presidential Palace and made Marco Aurelio personally call the Uruguayan President, Jose Mujica, to verify the story.

Marco Aurelio Garcia explained “the decision to include Venezuela on July 31^st was part of a broad understanding that included President Mujica. “I want to make clear that on our part there was no imposition, no pressure. This is not the style of President Dilma or that of the Brazilian foreign policy”.

Garcia said that Venezuela withdrew from economic sanctions it had unilaterally taken against Paraguay to suspend oil supply to its Latin American neighbor. He denied, however, that the Chavez’s retreat was a condition to the entry of Venezuela in the bloc.

Paraguay: with less than ten months left for the presidential elections, country lives amid political uncertainties

Paraguay’s political history is marked by advances and setbacks, and one of the longest dictatorships of the Americas, led by General Alfredo Stroessner. In 2008, the country elected the former bishop Fernando Lugo, who has promised agrarian reform and social improvement. With Lugo’s impeachment, the country lives amid a political climate of uncertainty with less than ten months left for the presidential elections.

Interestingly enough, according to the country’s constitution, the impeachment of the former Paraguayan leader does not make him ineligible; in other words if he wishes, Lugo could run for president in the upcoming election, because even though he was impeached, the former president preserved all his political rights, and therefore there are no legal limitations to his candidacy. On the other hand, Paraguayan law forbids re-election. Consequentially, Federico Franco, the new president cannot run for reelections.

On April 21^st, 2013, all Paraguayan citizens 18 to 75 years old are required to vote. The population will choose the president, vice-president, governors and 17 out of the country’s 45 senators, besides 80 congressmen. However, Lugo’s impeachment and the new government of President Federico Franco generated a series of unanswered issues.

Unlike Brazil, where Fernando Collor’s impeachment in 1992 was a slow-paced, gradual-developed process monitored step-by-step by the population, Fernando Lugo’s impeachment happened suddenly, abruptly. Despite a number of tycoon farmers, opposition politicians and even Lugo sensing that “something was in the air,” one cannot deny the incredible efficiency regarding the whole process after the decision to depose Lugo was taken.

Among Paraguayan few foreign policy concerns, Brazil is undoubtedly the main one. The relationship with Brazil involves, for example, Itaipu, the corridor of Paranaguá, soybean production and the so-called brasiguaios (Paraguayan descendents of Brazilian farming immigrants), who exert significant economic and political influence. Seen as an imperialist country by one of Paraguay’s main newspaper, ABC Color, Brazil is working hard to change this stereotype, accepting, for instance, negotiating the tariffs paid for the Paraguayan excess energy supply from Itaipu. Piracy is definitely the downside that Brazil faces in its relationship with Paraguay. Without a clear solution for the problem, piracy has become important to Paraguay’s poor economy and a problem for the booming Brazilian economy.

Lugo had a great relationship with former President Lula, something which was promising to the relations between the two countries. However, Lugo did not make it clear to the Brazilian government that his domestic relationship with the major law and opinion makers in the country was extremely fragile.

There are several reasons for Friday’s impeachment. Some the most important are the following:

1. Lugo did not mange to build a decent coalition in Parliament. He lacked the political skills to neutralize enemies and reinforce his allies;

2. Despite having the very important the support of the rural workers, Lugo also needed the support of the country’s elites, which he did not have.

3. The dialogue and coordination between tycoon farmers and members of the Colorado Party had been occurring for a long time. Sources in the country point these two as responsible for deflagrating Lugo’s deposition;

4. The press was not favorable to Lugo and it constituted the most important vehicle of popular clamor;

5. Paraguay’s domestic policy is strongly influenced by tycoon farmers, the economic and cultural elites of the Asuncion, businessmen and people linked to piracy in Ciudad del Este. Lugo was in direct conflict with the first group, and failed to cultivate a relationship that could favor him with the other groups.

The aforementioned facts expose an unprecedented weakness a president in South America. If externally, Lugo’s impeachment process, was questioned by the foreign press and neighboring countries, domestically the population seems nonchalant, and in a political climate of anesthesia. However, once the anesthesia fades, the local political system could be the stage of new upheavals.

By the current scenario of Paraguayan politics, elections will polarize the dispute between traditional Colorado Party candidates – who opposed Lugo and were linked to Stroessner – and the Liberal Party. Some names are being presented as possible candidates for the presidency, but there are no official confirmations.

The Colorado Party’s possible candidates are Horicio Cartes, Zacarias Irún e Lilian Samaniego, the latter also the party’s president. The Liberal Party’s possible candidates are Blas Llano, who is a businessman, connected to the Franco government, and Efraim Alegre.

Brazil: Lobão ensures that the situation in Paraguay will not change energy supply to the country

The Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy, Edison Lobão said that the political changes in Paraguay will not change the energy cooperation agreement that involves the shared management of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant with Brazil. He said the Brazilian government does not fear retaliation from the neighboring country.

The dam, built and managed by Brazil and Paraguay, has 14,000 megawatts of installed power and corresponds to approximately 19% of energy consumed in Brazil and 91% of consumption in Paraguay.

The Itaipu Treaty signed in 1973, establishes that each country has the right to use half the energy generated by the plant. Because it uses only 5% of what it is entitled, Paraguay sells the rest of the asset to Brazil.

According to Lobão, Paraguay has no other possible buyers for their energy surplus, except Brazil. The minister also noted that the plant has an autonomous administration, with directors of the two countries.

The new president of Paraguay, Federico Franco, said recently that the government will honor all over the contracted responsibilities, including paying debts, supplying energy and maintaining good relations with all countries, including Brazil.

Franco nominated the engineer Franklin Boccia Anki to be the country’s new General-Director of Itaipu Paraguay, but the nomination must still be ratified by Congress.

Brazil will not recognize Lugo’s impeachment

Sources in Brasilia said that Brazil’s government will not recognize the impeachment of President Lugo. The government considers that legal and constitutional conditions of the process were run over and that democratic stability was broken.

The Paraguayan senators are in this very moment (06/22/2012 – 18:00 hours, Brasília local time) deciding the political future of Lugo. In order remove Lugo from office, the votes of 30 out of 45 senators are necessary. Only two senators are currently supporting Fernando Lugo. Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted favorably to the president’s impeachment by 76 votes in favor and only one against.

Brazil: Country presents its energetic matrix superiority in Rio +20

The Brazilian Energy Research Company (EPE) will take advantage of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) to show the world the benefits of the Brazilian energy matrix, especially in relation to its low carbon emissions.

During the conference, pamphlets will be distributed to the Heads of State and other government officials, as well as the remaining participants of the event showing, for example, that the country participates with less than 1.2% of world’s carbon dioxide emission, which reached 30 billion tons in 2009.

According to EPE, although Brazil is the sixth largest economy in the world, it ranks the 18th position when compared with other countries regarding the emissions of greenhouse gases originated from the production and use of energy.

EPE data also shows that for every kilowatt-hour produced in the country, 64 grams of carbon dioxide is released, while the world’s average is 500 grams. That’s because 88% of energy generated in Brazil comes from renewable sources such as hydroelectricity, wind and biomass. The global percentage is 19%.

Furthermore, the Energy Company points out that each Brazilian emits an average of 1.8 tons of carbon dioxide with the generation of electricity, while the world average is more than 4 tons. In the U.S., 16.9 tons of carbon dioxide per capita is produced due to power generation. To produce US$ 1 of gross domestic product (GDP) 0.16 pound of carbon dioxide is emitted in Brazil, which is half the world’s average of 0.33 pounds. In Russia, this number jumps to 0.73.

Today, thanks to ethanol, Brazil emits 33.3% less carbon dioxide than it would emit if the country only used fossil fuels to power vehicles. The goal is that with the increased use of ethanol in 2020 the reduction may reach 54%. The estimation of EPE is that by 2020, ethanol can serve more than half of the energy required to power the country’s light vehicle.

Brazil: Country grants political asylum to Bolivian Senator

The Brazilian government decided to grant political asylum to Bolivian Senator Roger Pinto Molina, leader of the opposition in Congress. The congressman was already a refugee at the Brazilian embassy in La Paz since May 28^th.

In a statement, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry affirmed it has granted asylum to Molina “in light of the rules and practices of Latin American international law and based on Article 4, Section 10 of the Federal Constitution.”

Molina made ​​the request for political asylum last week. He claims to be persecuted by the government of Evo Morales, on the account of his role in defending human rights. However, Morales denies the charge. The senator said his wife, one of the couple’s three daughters and two granddaughters are in the Brazilian state of Acre and the other daughters and grandchildren, are still in Bolivia.

Former governor of Pando, in the Bolivian amazon border with Brazil, the senator is accused by authorities of irregularities. An article in the newspaper La Razon, from La Paz, reports that the senator faces at least 20 lawsuits in courts of La Paz, Santa Cruz, Sucre and Cobija, which refer mainly to charges of contempt, ilegal sale of public assets and corruption.

Last week, Bolivia’s government officials reacted to the Senator’s request for refuge.  Brazil is awaiting for a response from the Bolivian government on the provision of a safe-conduct to Roger Pinto Molina so that he may be transported to Brazil.

Brazil: Country is willing to participate in negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program

Brazil’s government is willing to cooperate once again with Iran to negotiate an agreement between the country and the international community over its nuclear program. The ambassador of Brazil in Iran, Antonio Salgado, said that the Brazilian authorities are willing to help mediate the negotiations, whose next round will take place in Russia this month.

The ambassador stressed that, as yet, he has not received any request for the participation of Brazil in the negotiations. This month, in Moscow, the authorities of Iran will meet with representatives of the P5 +1 group (group composed by the U.S., UK, France, Russia, China and Germany).

According to the Brazilian diplomat, the negotiations between Iran and the P5 +1 have “a good chance of reaching a definitive solution to the issue.” Meanwhile, the Iranian government has postponed the decision to launch its observation satellite, Fajr. The forecast to its released was May 23rd. The new date is kept secret. The Iranian space agency chief, Hamid Fazeli, said that by March 20th, 2013 the Fajr will be fully capacitated to be launched. He declined to disclose the precise date.

The Iranian space program is closely monitored by the international community, as well as the nuclear program developed in the country. International experts suspect Iran aims to develop long-range missiles capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. Iranian officials deny these suspicions.