Thus, Venezuela could not be included as a fundamental part of the
covenant despite its enormous economic and political weight in the area
and the total support of the presidents of the host country and Argentina,
Brazil and Paraguay, the remaining members of the group.

The reason? The reluctance of a small segment of Paraguayan right-wing
lawmakers, which no doubt encouraged from abroad, put hurdles to the
Venezuelan entry from the halls of their parliament in Asunción.

And the issue is that MERCOSUR policies require that any new membership
must be approved, among others, by the legislatures of the nations active
within the group, a loophole that with all malice those opposed to the
convergence between our peoples are using to their advantage.

Therefore, the abovementioned legal situation has become the instrument to
extend for years the contradiction that ultimately only hurts the very
mechanism of integration, since the possible new member will contribute
with large energy, natural and human reserves.

Of course, governments present in Montevideo have not crossed their arms
or assume the issue as a “hopeless doom” but yetthe subject calls for
reflection that joining, walking shoulder to shoulder, sharing their fate
and access the same way, it is not an easy task or feasible overnight.

In this regard it is worth remembering the statement made by President
Raul Castro during the founding act of the Community of Latin America and
the Caribbean States
(CELAC), held earlier this December in Caracas, where he said that after
creating such an important bloc, the essential task was to take it on
track, overcome all obstacles, to overcome the opposing forces and achieve
the goal of making of our region one of the world essential partners in a
multipolar world.

In short, do not let the project languish between hollow sessions,
sounding words and hall smiles, but working with the entire commitment and
responsibility required for making their bases and projects a tangible and
lasting reality.

But in this long journey, and no doubt its extent and degree of
difficulty, will require a lot of courage, intelligence, tenacity and
commitment, because inside and outside borders our enemies will always be
lurking.