Pressenza Pressenza International Press Agency Quito, 28/11/09 The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Defense Council closed November 27 in Quito and concluded with a resolution establishing measures of cooperation, mutual trust, commitments on sovereignty and non-intervention among the corresponding countries in the region.
The document has three parts: Description of trust-building measures; the Global drug problem; and Final and transitory provisions. The first part, furthermore, is divided into five chapters, each with precise measures.
The description of the trust-building measures includes the exchange of military information and transparency; intra and extra-regional military exercises; security measures; assurances, compliance and verification.
The essential part of the document is the section on assurances, among which is established the prohibition on the use by UNASUR members or the threat of the use of force of any type of military attack or threats against the sovereignty or territorial integrity of other Nations.
The countries in the regional block will formally assure that defense cooperation agreements that imply any form of presence in their territories of personnel, equipment or armament of Nations from the region or outside of the region will not be used against any other country.
These agreements, provides the final document, will include an express clause the ensures respect of the principals of sovereign equality of all Nations, their integrity and territorial inviolability, non-intervention in internal affairs and maintaining a nuclear arms-free region.
The resolution, is being negotiated by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense since the meeting held in Quito last September 15, pursuant to the August 28 Summit in Bariloche, Argentina, and concluded in the evening in Quito, although there are some pending issues.
In spite of the absence of high-ranking Colombian officials having prevented any agreement on a paragraph condemning the installation of foreign military bases in the region, the approved document justifies the successful balance of the meeting held by Ecuadorian chancellor, Fander Falconí.
Source: Prensa Latina
(Translation provided by Iuslingua LLC)
