Reach, Relevance of UNASUR

SCOPE, RELEVANCE OF UNASUR

Carlos Mora Vanegas

The prosecuting Latin American integration is decisive stage present on planet earth and find the best ways to integrate and knowing how to use their wealth, true integration that favors the development of Latin American countries, especially when it has the following factors:

• Has a change in GDP in current U.S. dollars 2,886,780 million, making it the fourth largest economy in the world

• It has a population of more than 380 million people.

• Has an area of ​​over 17 million square kilometers, more than any nation, and in 4th place when compared with other international blocs.

• Their export earnings amounted to U.S. $ 181.856 million.

• Has 27% of the sources of freshwater in the world.

• Has eight million square kilometers of forested land.

• It is located between two major oceans of the world.

• It is the largest producer and exporter of food in the world.

• Its reserves of oil resources will last 100 years.

• 95% of its people share a single religion.

• The vast majority of people speak two languages ​​mutually intelligible world (Spanish and Portuguese).

• Has a common history and shared values

The Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, is a political and economic community among the twelve South American countries constituted on December 8, 2004 in the city of Cuzco, Peru during the Third South American Summit, and South American Community of Nations. In the First South American Energy Summit, held from 16 April 17, 2007 in Isla de Margarita (Venezuela), the leaders decided that the South American Community of Nations (CSN) should be renamed the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and will create a permanent secretariat based in Quito (Ecuador) and a parliament based in Cochabamba (Bolivia). Was appointed as its first Secretary General to former Ecuadorian President Rodrigo Borja Cevallos.

The purpose of UNASUR is to form a South American space integrated in the political, social, economic, environmental and infrastructure. The principles and basic policy orientation of the Community are set out in the Cusco Declaration and the Declaration of Ayacucho. UNASUR is located in a geographical area of ​​17.7 million km2. It has an estimated population of 377 million people and a GDP of 1.229 trillion

The Union of South American Nations seeks to develop an integrated political, social, cultural, economic, financial, environmental and infrastructure. This new model of integration will include all the progress achieved so far by the processes of Mercosur and the Andean Community, as well as the experience of Chile, Guyana and Suriname. The ultimate goal is and will stimulate a more equitable, harmonious and integral part of South America.

The Declaration sets out actions to:

1. Concerted and coordinated political and diplomatic in the region.

2. Convergence of Mercosur, Andean Community and Chile on a free trade area. Suriname and Guyana may be associated with this process without prejudice to its obligations to the Caricom.

3. Physical integration, energy and communications in South America. Powered by the South American Regional Integration Initiative (IIRSA).

4. Harmonization of policies for rural development and food.

5. Technology transfer and horizontal cooperation in all fields of science, education and culture.

6. Increasing interaction between business and civil society in integration.

Progressively be established measures, actions and areas for joint action on the basis of existing institutions

Wikipedia brings us also, that by the time the temporary structure of UNASUR, a former CSN, is as follows:

• Meetings of Heads of State (UNASUR Summit), on an annual basis, is the highest of political leadership. The first meeting was held on 29 and September 30, 2005 in Brasilia. The II between 8 and December 9, 2006 in Cochabamba (Bolivia). The Third Summit would be held in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) on January 24 to 28, 2008.

• Meetings of Foreign Ministers, held biannually, formulate concrete proposals for action and executive decision. They will be joined by the Chairman of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of Mercosur, the Director of the Secretariat of Mercosur, the Secretary General of the Andean Community, the Secretary General of ALADI and the Permanent Secretariat of the Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty and other institutions of regional cooperation and integration;

• Sectoral Ministerial Meetings convened by the Heads of State. Take place within the mechanisms of Mercosur and CAN. Meetings and actions of infrastructure and the implementation of priority projects agreed agenda is carried out by the South American Regional Integration Initiative (IIRSA);

• The troika of UNASUR is formed by the host of the summit and the host countries last year and the following year. Support in their efforts to the Secretariat Pro Tempore.

• The Secretariat pro tempore shall be exercised on an annual and rotating basis by the member countries of UNASUR summit between each UNASUR. Countries that have had have been: Peru (2004), Brazil (2005) and Bolivia (2006). As agreed in Decisions of the Political Dialogue signed during the First South American Energy Summit would create a permanent secretariat based in Quito (Ecuador).

• On December 9, 2005 created the Strategic Commission of Reflection on the South American integration process. 12 members, its purpose is to develop proposals that promote South American integration process. Must deliver its recommendations at the Second Summit of UNASUR (2006).

• Senior Officials Committee (created by the Second Summit of the CSN), transformed into a Council of Delegates or political committee, according to the decisions of the Political Dialogue.

Among the major works of integration are those identified by Wikipedia:

• The Union of South American integration schemes began with the construction of the Interoceanic Highway that will link Peru with Brazil through Bolivia, giving it an outlet to the sea, an exit to Brazil and Peru to the Pacific Ocean, an output the Atlantic Ocean. Construction began in September 2005, funded 60% by Brazil and 40% for Peru, and is expected to culminate in 2009.

• We followed it, the South American Energy Ring, for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay are supplied with gas Peru: Camisea Gas. Their proposal has already been ratified and signed for the start of construction will be in 2006.

• The binational gas pipeline, an energy project of integration between Colombia and Venezuela, was launched on July 8, 2006 and will last for 24 months by the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA. The construction cost is U.S. $ 300 million. (See Uribe and Chavez give free rein to binational gas pipeline).

• Also included is the Binational Pipeline, which will be extended in the near future to allow Venezuela to export oil to the Far East through the Pacific coast of Colombia.

• In French Guiana the only exception, all the rest of South America can be visited by any South American for up to 90 days with only present their national identity.