Venezuela's membership with Mercosur in place on July 31

Venezuela's admission to the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) "is not pulling out" and will be formally in place next July 31, as agreed by the presidents of the Member States a month ago at the summit held in Mendoza, Argentina, Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Almagro.

Such a decision "is in the national interest" and strengthens the regional trade bloc, the Foreign Minister added in a feature on Monday of Montevideo's daily newspaper La Diaria, Efe quoted.

Mercosur comprises  Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. The latter was suspended in retaliation to the dismissal of President Fernando Lugo by the Paraguayan Senate.

Almagro ratified his stance contrary to the way of voting Venezuela's entry into Mercosur and his disagreement with Paraguayan President José Mujica.