Mercosur Members & Meeting with Promise to Improve International Trade & Resolve Poverty.

The members of the South American trade bloc Mercosur ended their recent assembly with the promise to cooperate more closely in improving their international trade relations, creating more employment opportunities, and resolving poverty. Among the 10 leaders present during the event, five represented the members of Mercosur while the others like Cuban Leader Fidel Castro and Bolivian President Evo Morales attended the meeting as a gesture of support. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez acknowledged his nation's official entry into the South American international trade group. Moreover, Mr. Chavez has called for the other members to resolve social problems. During the summit, thousands of activists flocked the University of Cordoba in Argentina in order to listen to Mr. Chavez's speech. The Venezuelan leader was quoted saying that capitalism was perverse. He further stated that the wealthy were always looked after while the poor were neglected.

According to reporters, the pledges made during the assembly such as boosting international trade and creating more jobs were already typical to such gatherings. However, what was new this year was the fact that the leaders and the demonstrators out on the streets had almost the same vision and sentiment.

Venezuela officially entered Mercosur during the summit. Mr. Chavez stated that the South American trade bloc, which has been weakened by internal problems, was stepping into a new stage. Moreover, the Venezuelan leader called for the organization to remain steadfast in opposing the free market policies promoted by the United States. According to him, such campaigns have undermined the economic influence of the South American continent. Mr. Chavez also called for the other members to do more on resolving poverty and creating more jobs for the people. According to him, the trade bloc should learn from the social programs implemented by Fidel Castro in Cuba. Mr. Chavez said that the South American region has all the resources it needs in order to rise as a world power particularly in International Trade.

Mr. Castro, who attended the assembly for the first time in 3 years commented that the economic integration promoted by Mercosur faces the opposition of many critics. It must be noted that the assembly was primarily aimed at establishing and fortifying economic ties and international trade across Latin America. But the members of Mercosur did not tackle trade issues with the European Union, as well as other nations like Pakistan.

Argentinean President Nestor Kircher stated that both Mexico and Bolivia should be acepted into the South American trade bloc, which, according to him, should be instrumental to social and economic development. Needless to say, some people are concerned that Mercosur is at risk of losing its focus on free and international trade and is becoming more fixed in boosting political influence in the region. Michael Shifter, an analyst at Inter-American Dialogue commented that Mercosur seemed to stray from its goal of promoting free trade. Instead, it is gradually turning into an effort to form an alternative allience to thwart the international trade and free trade standards promoted by the United States.