First Steps taken in Bolivia for Establishing a South American Parliament

Single South American Currency and Integration also discussed

By Global Research
Global Research, October 06, 2007
Prensa Latina 6 October 2007
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Bolivia has taken the first steps to set up the South American Parliament, while agreements on the type of State were reached at the Constituent Assembly.

Some 56 lawmakers from 12 countries met on Friday in the central city of Cochabamba and agreed to continue to study the bases of the Foundational Agreement of the Parliament of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), as a new scenario for integration.

The document must be approved at the Third South American Summit, scheduled for January 2008 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

The new parliament will have to face international challenges in relations between blocs and countries, and will work on Latin American integration.

At the opening session of the meeting, President Evo Morales even suggested considering a single currency, so that the member countries would not depend on the euro or the dollar.

He also stressed the need to defend basic services and the access to resources such as water, and to prevent the privatization of such resources in detriment of the majorities.

The lawmakers demanded broader debate and consensus on the way to elect the representatives of UNASUR, the responsibilities and attributions of the new mechanism of consultation, and its relationship with national parliaments.

They agreed to meet again in Medellin, Colombia on November 22-23 to continue to debate the project, which will be voted by the region’s foreign ministers on November 30.

At the same time, Bolivians witnessed a first accord to make the Constitute Assembly, to be in force until December 14, viable.

The Policy Council, created by the government and made up of 11 of 16 parties represented at the forum, approved a proposal to create a state, community and private economic State.

The initiative must be voted by two thirds of the 255 delegates of the Assembly, according to Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia.

He added that it is about three forms of organization: a mixed economy, a community economy and a private economy, all of which are aimed at improving the people’s quality of life.
Articles by: Global Research

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