Mercosur to discuss EU trade, Colombia-Venezuela spat

[pampango]

Source: Earth Times

South American leaders were to meet Tuesday in the Argentine provincial capital San Juan at the Mercosur summit to discuss a trade agreement with the European Union and a showdown between Colombia and Venezuela.

Relations between the South American neighbours reached a new low last month after Colombia accused Venezuela of harbouring leftist FARC rebels. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez then cut off diplomatic relations with Bogota and accused Colombia of attempting to incite a war. Mercosur Secretary General Nestor Kirchner, the former Argentine president, is to mediate between the sides.

Also on the agenda were trade talks between the European Union and the South American trade bloc, which resumed this summer after six years. Past negotiations have foundered on disagreements over agriculture issues, with European farmers and politicians fearing a flood of cheap beef and poultry imports from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The summit began with a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday. Presidents Cristina Kirchner of Argentina, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Fernando Lugo of Paraguay, Jose Mujica of Uruguay, Sebastian Pinera of Chile and Evo Morales of Bolivia were also expected to attend Tuesday's meetings.

Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/337699,eu-trade-colombia-venezuela-spat.html