Maduro confirms visits to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.

Renata Giraldi*
Reporter from Agência Brasil

Brasilia – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro confirmed that he will visit Mercosur countries, with the exception of Paraguay, which is temporarily suspended from the bloc. Maduro will visit Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. In Brazil, the Venezuelan will be on Thursday (9). “[The objective of the visits] is to continue completing perfect integration,” he said, recalling that the effort is for “the pursuit of social equality for all the peoples who are in the bloc [Mercosur]”.

This is Maduro's first trip abroad since his election in April. On June 28, Venezuela assumes the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur. During an event honoring President Hugo Chávez, who died two months ago from cancer, Maduro said that his first visit will be to Uruguay. After that, he will go to Argentina and then to Brazil.

Mercosur is made up of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Paraguay – which is suspended from the bloc until April 2013. Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia are associate members.

With the addition of Venezuela, which joined the bloc in December 2012, Mercosur now has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$3,32 trillion. The country has 275 million inhabitants.

*With information from the multi-state television broadcaster, Telesur.