Colombia, June 23, 2003.   The Secretary General of the Andean Community hailed the presence of the Brazilian President at the Andean summit and ratified the will of the Andean countries to conclude the negotiation of a free trade agreement with Mercosur as rapidly as possible and, in any case, before the year is out.   

Fernández de Soto stated that the Andean Presidents will soon have the chance to personally transmit to the Brazilian leader their "firm intention to boost the CAN-Mercosur negotiating process" and, at the same time,  "restart and strengthen the political dialogue aimed at consolidating the South American space." 

"The summit will offer an opportunity for an exchange of viewpoints about the strategic relations between the Andean Community and Mercosur and the political and trade dialogue established between the two blocs," he emphasized.   

He went on to express his pleasure at the success of the recent Mercosur Summit and in particular at the backing given by the Heads of State of that bloc to the negotiations that are underway with the CAN.   

The Secretary General emphasized the will of the Andean Presidents to speed up the negotiations with third countries or blocs from a Community standpoint by applying the "variable geometry concept" –that is, by permitting the countries to move ahead in the negotiations at different speeds.