Santiago, Chile, March 11, 2006. The Secretary General of the Andean Community, Ambassador Allan Wagner, underscored the Communiqué issued today, in Santiago, Chile, by the Andean Presidents, calling for the attainment of a political consensus with the European governors at the European-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit in Vienna this coming May, in order to launch the negotiation that would lead to a CAN-EU Association Agreement including a Free Trade Area.

"The Association Agreement with the European Union, to be achieved through bloc-to-bloc negotiation, will contribute to the strengthening and deepening of Andean integration, make it possible to reach better balanced participation by the Andean countries in the world economy, and bring the region closer to the European development model that is more inclusive and focused on social cohesion,” Wagner pointed out.

In that communiqué, the Presidents, in congratulating President Michelle Bachelet, underscored the importance they place on deepening relations between the Andean Community and Chile, in the context of the formation of the South American Community of Nations, and reiterated their commitment to continue implementing the Andean integration agenda in order to achieve its key aim, promotion of the harmonious and balanced development of the Andean nations.