Quito, July 12, 2004. The Secretary General of the Andean Community, Allan Wagner, remarked that, now more than ever, integration can represent a powerful instrument for the fair and equal insertion of our countries into the new international system, to assist with the democratic consolidation process being experienced by our nations.

“Integration is a necessary condition for the development of our people”, stated Wagner in his speech during the opening of the Andean Presidential Summit, this morning in the Ecuadorian capital. The ceremony was attended by four Andean Heads of State: Carlos Mesa from Bolivia, Alvaro Uribe from Colombia, Lucio Gutierrez from Ecuador and Hugo Chávez from Venezuela. Representing President Alejandro Toledo, who will arrive to the city in the afternoon, was the Peruvian Foreign Affairs Minister, Manuel Rodríguez Cuadros.

Integration must also become the basis for the link between the domestic agenda and the foreign agenda of our countries, with view to putting together a single agenda for development and international insertion.

He noted that, to this end, he has proposed to the five member countries to adopt a new Strategic Design for Andean integration, which central support would be the strengthening of trade integration, development of competitiveness, the development of new strategic subjects (energy and sustainable development); and political cooperation and social cohesion.

He underscored that the strengthening of trade integration is essential, considering the fact that, at present, the countries are engaged in international trade negotiations in different forums (WTO, FTAA; FTA with the U.S.A.., MERCOSUR), based on the same agenda, because the subjects are similar and the plans are closely inter-related, counting on an indispensable support: the Andean context and the Community agenda itself.

He indicated that such negotiations require the participating countries to make great efforts to preserve the values, principles and advantages of integration; to safeguard the terms applicable to the most favored nation, to avoid discrimination between Andean countries; and in any case, to jointly adapt and adjust Community legislation to the new realities deriving from such international agreements.

"Never before, have international trade negotiations and the tasks proper of a more extensive integration been so inter-related”. This turns us into relevant players in multiple international scenarios, he pointed out.

Referring to Andean integration, he noted that it gains strength from political, economic and socio-cultural cooperation, obtaining trust, principles and shared values that translate into the defense and promotion of common interests.

Finally, the CAN Secretary General shared with the Andean Presidents his conviction that this Summit will be decisive for the future of our Andean Community, such as agreements to be reached to:

“- boost our integrated development more clearly aligning us for the defense of a multilateral international system based on law and cooperation.

- secure an actual involvement in the design of a multipolar world order, free of influences.

- allow the development of the capabilities required for our insertion into the global economy, within a framework of equality and social inclusion social; and

- contribute to the well-being of the common Andean individual, and to a greater strength and legitimacy of our democracies”.