The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in preparation for its summit released two position papers. The leaders of the 12-member group declared support for Argentina in its dispute with England over sovereignty of the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, which the two countries went to war over in 1982.
The document states that UNASUR repudiates recent petroleum exploration activities by England in the area and calls on the two nations to comply with recommendations by the United Nations and seek a negotiated solution.
In another paper, UNASUR declared that one of the organization’s priorities is to integrate the continent’s electricity grids and expand the development of energy sources as well as access to those sources throughout all of South America.
Also on the UNASUR summit agenda is the question of whether or not to recognize the November elections in Honduras. UNASUR will also decide on an internal election: a new secretary general for the organization.
The former president of Argentina, now a deputy and the husband of the present president of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner, was elected UNASUR secretary general.
The only problem with his election was a threat by Uruguay to veto Kirchner because of a dispute over paper mills built in Uruguay near Argentina; the dispute, because of paper mill pollution, was resolved in arbitration by the Organization of American States.
Finally, there is the matter of Paraguay where the president, Fernando Lugo, has placed the country under a “state of exception” wherein a number of constitutional guarantees and rights are suspended for a set period of time so the Army can act freely (always a delicate issue in Latin America).
Lugo justifies the measure because of activities of a leftist militant movement known as the Army of the Paraguayan People (EPP) that has been kidnapping people since 2008. Paraguay also has a very serious problem with narcotraffick.
At the moment, further complicating the situation, Paraguay and Brazil face difficulties along the 1,365 kilometer border the two countries share where tens of thousands of so-called Brasiguayos have lived on both sides of the border more or less without any control for many, many years (these are people who are both, but neither, Brazilian or Paraguayan, often with no documents; birth certificates, for examples).
At this time the catch is that they are being expelled from Paraguay en masse – by the EPP and drug lords, as well as Paraguayan farmers eager to take their land.
