Union of South American Nations Are Integrating Defense

South America Integrating Defense

Prensa Latina | Mar 9, 2009

Santiago, Chile, Mar 9 (Prensa Latina) Defense ministers from 12 Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) are to analyze cooperation issues here on Monday and Tuesday in the first South American Defense Council (SADC).

According to organizers of the meeting, the SADC is an integration mechanism aimed at discussing realities and defense needs of the country members, reducing conflicts and distrust and paving the way for the future formulation of a common policy.

Deputy ministers from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Paraguay, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela held here in January its first meeting, opened by Chilean Minister Jose Goni, because his country has the pro tempore presidency of UNASUR until May, when Ecuador is the new president.

The agenda includes creation of a South American Center for Defense and Strategic Studies (SACDSS) and the execution in November of the First South American Meeting for Strategic Studies (SAMSS).

Also on the list is to plan a combined cooperation military drill in case of catastrophes or natural disasters, create a network to exchange information on defense policies, carry out a seminar on modernization of Defense Ministries, and reveal information on expenses and economic indicators of the sector.

Other points are the identification of "risk factors and threats that could affect regional and world peace" and the creation of a mechanism to join regional positions in multi-lateral defense forums.

Ministers will also analyze military cooperation, humanitarian actions and peace operations, industry and defense technology and training, among other issues.

Prior to the meeting, US head of the Joint chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen visited Chile last week and met with President Michelle Bachelet and military authorities, in the framework of a tour of several regional countries.

Integration of South American Nations into a "Union of South American Nations" In Progress; Creation of Regional System of Legal Issues Underway

http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={66618FDA-9672-4E92-A9D2-61DF58D48D67})&language=ENUNASUR Moves to Regional LegislationCaracas, Oct 4, 2008Latin American News Agency(Prensa Latina) Experts of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) took the firststeps to create a regional system in legal issues, as part of the integration process that is currently in progress.In three days of meetings at the 3rd UNASUR Judicial Power President Summit, the participants achieved agreements in issues as extradition, exhortation, alternative mechanisms to solve conflicts and exequatur. The final statement of the meeting held in Margarita Island, in the Venezuelan Caribbean, highlighted the need to establish mechanisms to facilitate extradition and create center for conciliation and arbitration to make progress in the regional project.Brazilian, Paraguayan, Chilean, Peruvian, Panamanian, Uruguayan and Venezuelan Judicial Power presidents debated an extensive spectrum of issues, which included the need to sign protocols to unify sentence proceedings.The proposal of a regional center for conciliation and arbitration was presented by Colombia and Chile, reported Peruvian Supreme Court President Francisco Tavara, who supported his country's initiative.The objective is to create an institution to resolve controversies that might emerge when implementing cooperation programs, as contracts for large public infrastructure works and others.Paraguayan Supreme Court President Victor Manuel Nuñez defended the signing of protocols to unify the proceedings for foreign sentences in national spheres.UNASUR needs to be agile in dealing with international problems, and its concept of integration has to be extensive and global, and in this respect, we share the integrationist idea, he said.The meeting was led by Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice President Luisa Estela Morales, with participation of President Hugo Chavez.Morales explained that the Summit was summoned to pave the way to cooperation among regional countries and avoid hindrances that could arise to achieve a true unity in justice administration.The first meeting of this kind was held in Chile in 2007 and the second was held in Peru in 2008.