The governments of the Mercosur states of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay have denied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the opportunity to remotely attend a meeting of heads of state and government to be held in Paraguay on Thursday (21st).
A spokesman for Mercosur’s interim presidency announced that he would veto Zelensky’s participation. “There was no consensus. It was communicated to the Ambassador of Ukraine in Argentina, who is in Paraguay,” said Raúl Cano, Paraguay’s Deputy Foreign Minister, at a press conference this Wednesday (20th).
Exclusive: Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticizes President Bolsonaro’s neutral position in the war
Founded in 1991, Mercosur is the main integration bloc in South America with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay as partners.
Zelenskyy gave an exclusive interview to Globo correspondent Raquel Krähenbühl on Tuesday (19th). He shared details about Monday’s (18th) phone call with President Jair Bolsonaro.
Zelenskyy criticized Bolsonaro’s decision to remain neutral in Brazil on the conflict, comparing President Bolsonaro’s position to that of leaders who remained neutral at the start of World War II. It was Zelenskyy’s first interview with a Latin American press since the beginning of the war.
“Yesterday I spoke to President Bolsonaro and I am grateful to him for this conversation. It was not my first conversation with the Brazilian President. I do not support his position of neutrality. I don’t think anyone can remain neutral when there’s war in the world,” says Zelenskyy.
Paraguayan Foreign Minister Julio Arriola announced the completion of negotiations for an agreement between Mercosur and Singapore.
Arriola said Singapore is a key trade and investment partner for Mercosur.
The agreement implies diversification of trade flows and improvement of conditions for investment settlement between both parties. “Singapore is a major investor globally,” said Arriola.
Argentina’s Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero praised the deal reached with Singapore, stressing it was proof that Mercosur is ready to work together in a common and consensual manner.
“It may take some time. There is no need to conclude agreements between countries if they are not balanced agreements,” he noted.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto França described the agreement reached as “significant”, “the first with Southeast Asia and the most dynamic in the world”.