Mercosur
Chiefs Issue Statement In Support Of Argentina
By: Unknown
The Wall Street Journal, December 21, 2001
BRASILIA -- The presidents of Mercosur trade block countries issued a
statement Friday expressing their regret over the recent deterioration of
social stability and public order in Argentina and declaring their
solidarity with the Argentine people.
Presidents Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, Jorge Battle of
Uruguay, Luis Gonzalez Macchi of Paraguay, Jorge Quiroga of Bolivia, and
Ricardo Lagos of Chile issued the statement from a Mercosur summit meeting
in Montevideo, Uruguay.
In the declaration, the heads of state also called for foreign
assistance to Argentina.
"We urge the attention of the international community and
financial institutions to lend cooperation and support for the Republica
of Argentina with the urgency that the situation requires," the
statement said.
In addition, the presidents called for a democratic solution to the
situation at hand.
"We express our certainty that the current difficulties will be
overcome with the full respect for the institutional democratic system, as
the only path accepted by the region to resolve such difficulties."
Argentina has been in the throes of a deepening social chaos amid its
40th consecutive month of recession and an ongoing debt crisis.
The social and economic crises forced President Fernando De La Rua to
hand in his resignation Thursday evening, two years and 10 days after
taking office.
De la Rua was replaced by Senate President Ramon Puerta.
Puerta will serve as interim president until the country can hold new
elections.
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