Quito, October 26, 2011

ECUADORIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCRETES COOPERATION WITH PARAGUAY FOR THE EXERCISE OF THE PRO TEMPORE PRESIDENCY OF UNASUR

A delegation of the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry traveled to Asunción on October 19-20 in order to present to the Paraguayan authorities, the experience of Ecuador while in charge of the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

The Ecuadorian delegation is composed by former Political Coordinator of the Pro Tempore Presidency of UNASUR, Ambassador Santiago Apunte and Dr. Pablo Aviles diplomat who was part of the team that led the office during the Pro Tempore Presidency of Ecuador.

The Ecuadorian officials described in detail how Ecuador combined the national political agenda for the Latin American integration especially the South American one, which is enshrined as a constitutional mandate, with the regional agenda in the framework of UNASUR. They also answer the questions of the Paraguayan team that will assume soon the Pro Tempore Presidency in 2011-2012.

Foreign Minister of Paraguay, Jorge Lara Castro, and his colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Heads of related areas to Regional forums, thanked the cooperation, which is a demonstration of the strengthening of ties between the two countries, since both of them trust in this process of regional integration.

This visit was conducted because of the commitment acquired by Ecuador in the framework of the visit made by Foreign Minister Lara Castro to Quito on September 15, where he asked his Ecuadorian counterpart, Ricardo Patiño, to send a Special Mission to Asunción to convey to authorities of that country the experience of Ecuador in the exercise of that dignity in the period 2009-2010.

PRESS RELEASE No. 1063