BRASILIA, Brazil — A new South American union was born Friday as leaders of the region’s 12 nations set out to create a continental parliament.
Some see the new Union of South American Nations, known as Unasur, as a regional version of the European Union. Summit-host Brazil wants it to help coordinate defense affairs across South America, and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez calls it a counterweight to the United States.
“The No. 1 enemy of the union of the south is the empire of the United States,” Chavez said, claiming that the U.S. is “trying to generate wars in South America” to “divide and conquer.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva invited other Latin American and Caribbean nations to join the venture. “Unasur is born, open to all the region, born under the signs of diversity and pluralism,” he said.
But South America still faces its own divisive issues.
Unasur’s first secretary-general, Rodrigo Borja, resigned Thursday before the organization formally met.
Leaders also were split over plans for a South American Defense Council that would resolve conflicts, promote military cooperation and possibly coordinate joint weapons production.
Colombia is the only nation that opposes joining such a council, saying “the terrorist threat” it faces at home, amid 40 years of civil conflict, precludes military cooperation. Even so, a government statement added, “Colombia does not oppose the creation of a working group to study the theme.”
Relations in the region have been shaken by a Colombian cross-border raid into Ecuador on March 1 that killed Raul Reyes of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and 24 others. Colombia says computer files allegedly belonging to the rebel commander indicate links between the group and Venezuela.
Chavez called the allegation an “outright lie” and said the raid violated “Ecuadorean sovereignty … the OAS charter and the United Nations.” But he nevertheless shook hands Friday with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and said he wants good relations with Colombia.
Chavez also said oil prices have risen beyond Venezuela’s expectations but they could stabilize at about $100 a barrel.
He called President Bush “the most unpopular president in the history of the world” and said any of the three top candidates to succeed him would be an improvement.
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