Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that the warming of relations between Colombia and Venezuela was an example of how South America has learned to live democratically, reports EFE.
Speaking at the fourth summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in the Guayanian capital of Georgetown, Lula praised the “harmonious” relationship between Colombia and Venezuela.
Comparing the current situation between the neighboring countries to the diplomatic spat of earlier in the year, Lula said “this is the miracle of politics.”
The Brazilian leader also highlighted the success of the region in the past ten years and said that other nations have to respect the sovereignty of South American states.
Lula also paid tribute to former Argentinian leader and first secretary of UNASUR Nestor Kirchner, who died last month.
“The dreams of [Kirchner] were the dreams of every American,” Lula said to great applause.
High on the UNASUR agenda is a new democratic clause that would aim to prevent South American governments from being overthrown by coups.
A draft was approved by the UNASUR ministers of foreign affairs on Thursday. The clause will suspend trade and close the borders of any country which is threatened with the overthrown of a democratic government.
The presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela are attending the summit, while Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Uruguay are represented by their respective foreign ministers.
