Western Hemisphere
Héctor Lacognata, the Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez "has a confrontational discourse that promotes a climate not conducive to regional integration."

Lacognata told reporters that Chávez "is probably receiving internal support by creating external enemies but in the case of Paraguay his diplomacy is not left-leaning or right-leaning."

"The government of President Fernando Lugo is pragmatic. We have a conciliatory stance," the Paraguayan top diplomat said.

The entry of Venezuela into the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) was approved by the parliaments of Argentina and Uruguay; in contrast, the congresses of Brazil and Paraguay have postponed their support, AP reported.

In the case of Paraguay, the opposition parties controlling the Senate said that Chávez failed to respect Venezuelan institutions when he did not renew the broadcast license of private TV network RCTV, among other alleged government's decisions against the democratic system.