ABOUT THE FORUM FOR THE PROGRESS OF SOUTH AMERICA (PROSUR)

South American countries have launched the Forum for the Progress of South America (PROSUR), a new regional bloc which seeks the integration and strengthening of the region. Presidents and representatives from Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay and Guyana signed a joint declaration to create “a regional space of coordination and cooperation, without exclusion of ideologies” at a meeting in Santiago.

The bloc intends to “advance toward a more effective integration, that allows contribution to growth, progress and development” for the nations, said the declaration.

Prosur was driven by conservatives Chilean President Sebastian Piñera and Colombian President Ivan Duque, with a goal of strengthening regional ties and replacing the 12-member Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) which started in 2008 under the influence on then Venezuelan populist president Hugo Chavez and Lula da Silva from Brazil.

Here the 6 points of the final declaration:

1. Our willingness to build and consolidate a regional space of coordination and cooperation, without exclusions, to move towards a more effective integration that allows us to contribute to the growth, progress and development of the countries of South America.

2. Our recognition of the proposal to create a space for South American dialogue and collaboration, the Forum for the Progress of South America (PROSUR), and we instruct the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to deepen the dialogue in accordance with the terms of this Declaration.

3. That this space should be gradually implemented, have a flexible structure, light, inexpensive, with clear operating rules and an agile decision-making mechanism that allows South America to advance in understandings and concrete integration programs based on the common interests of the States and according to their own national realities.

4. That this space will address in a flexible manner the priority issues of integration in the areas of infrastructure, energy, health, defense, security and crime, prevention and management of natural disasters.

5. That the essential requirements to participate in this space will be the full validity of democracy, of the respective constitutional orders, respect for the principle of separation of the Powers of the State, and the promotion, protection, respect and guarantee of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, with respect to international law.

6. That the Republic of Chile will hold the Pro Tempore Presidency of this process during the next 12 months, and then it will be delivered to the Republic of Paraguay.

PROSUR  is a forum without ideology and bureaucracy, but with a total commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights,The alliance will provide a forum for South American countries to work together, make their voices heard and achieve more freedom, integration and development. Participating countries want it to be a forum without ideologies, a forum without bureaucracy, a forum for a frank and direct dialogue, but a forum with strong and clear commitment to the principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.

Bolivia and Uruguay did not join the group, Bolivia is a close ally of Venezuela and the Maduro regime and Uruguay will act as an observer since the ruling coalition is divided on the issue of Venezuela and the radicals led by ex-president Jose Mujica prevail since they have a greater representation in the Legislative.