Mercosur discusses speedy adaptation of Venezuela to the bloc

The foreign ministers of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) would tackle on Thursday the pace of Venezuela's adaptation to the regulations and tariffs of the regional trade bloc, one day before the presidential summit in the absence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, sources of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry reported.

Venezuela is making its debut in this summit as Mercosur full member. This is the first extension of the bloc since its establishment in 1991. The adaptation to the trade rules and regulations comes next. For this purpose, the new member has a four-year term. Nevertheless, its partners in the bloc plan to speed up this step, Tovar Nunes, a spokesman of the Brazilian Foreign Office explained, AFP cited.

"The inclusion process takes four years; we would like to accelerate it, as fast as possible," the spokesman said, referring to one of the items in the agenda of the foreign ministers.

Venezuela is the star in this summit as the new full member. However, President Chávez, missing in public since November 15 and in Cuba since November 27 for his cancer treatment, will not take part in the event, a source of the Brazilian Foreign Office reported.