CAN and UNASUR start identifying complementary elements, with a view to their future dovetailing

Lima, Jan. 23, 2012.- The Secretary Generals of the Andean Community (CAN), Adalid Contreras Baspineiro, and of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), María Emma Mejía, held an important meeting on Thursday, January 19 at UNASUR headquarters in Quito.  There they shared information and started identifying complementary elements, with a view to the future dovetailing of the two regional integration organizations.  

Acting CAN Secretary General, Adalid Contreras Baspineiro, explained that a roadmap had been prepared that will make it possible to have a consensus document on the subject in the near future.  He valued the fact that the meeting had been held in an environment of the fullest cordiality and agreed criteria.  Adalid Contreras reported, as well, that an effort will be made to incorporate the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) and the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) in the dovetailing process.  

The meeting between the highest level authorities of the two regional integration organizations was held in response to the mandate given last July by the Andean Presidents to the CAN Secretary General to identify, jointly with the Mercosur General Secretariat and the General Secretariat of UNASUR, common and complementary elements and differences, with a view to the future dovetailing of the three integration processes.

During his stay in Quito, the CAN Secretary General had a full agenda of visits.  Among these was a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador,   Ricardo Patiño, at which they examined the CAN’s relations with UNASUR and Ecuador’s participation in the CAN.  At another meeting, this time with the Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade, Francisco Rivadeneira, the advantages of that country’s participation in the CAN were explored, particularly those in the economic terrain.   

“At the meeting with the Vice-Minister, due value was given to the 300-fold growth of Ecuador’s exports to the Andean Community over a period of 41 years and how the CAN has become the main destination for Ecuador’s non-oil industrial exports,” he reported.   

The Secretary General also visited the Andean Community Court of Justice to hold a first coordination meeting with that organization’s new President, José Vicente Troya Jaramillo.

In order to coordinate joint efforts at familiarization with Andean integration, he visited region-wide communication organizations, like the Latin American Association for Radio Education (ALER) and the International Centre for Advanced Communication Studies for Latin America (CIESPAL).