Framework agreement between Mercosur and GCC is ready to be signed
Emirates News Agency
Framework agreement between Mercosur and GCC is ready to be signed
28 April 2005
The text of the framework of the free trade agreement between the Mercosur and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is ready to be singed, a Brazilian foreign ministry official has disclosed.
"The text is ready and we are awaiting a green light from the countries," ambassador Mario Vilalva, Director of the Trade Promotion Department of the Brazilian Foreign Office told Arab-Brazilian News Agency yesterday after participating in a meeting of Arab chambers of commerce here.
The Mercosur includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and the GCC includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the Untied Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman.
"I am going after the green light in Qatar and Oman this week," stated the diplomat, who is touring the Arab countries.
’’The intention is to sign the framework agreement during the summit.
"The text establishes the legal marker for negotiation of a free trade agreement," he declared. "And that opens a new space for trade with the Arabs," added the ambassador.
At the beginning of this week, the diplomat met with the Secretary General of the GCC, Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al-Attiyad, in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Attiyad is going to travel to Brazilian capital Brasilia, in May, to participate in the summit between Arab and South American countries.
Brazilian diplomats are currently touring the Arab countries to promote business events to take place in parallel with the summit.
Vilalva recalled that the Mercosur already has similar negotiations with other countries like India, South Africa, South Korea, Egypt and Morocco.
"The Mercosur is finally going beyond the frontiers of South America," he added.
According to the diplomat, the negotiations for framework agreements with the Arab countries and the organization of the summit itself are inserted into the Brazilian government policy of promoting closer ties with emerging nations.
In Saudi Arabia, where Vilava went before travelling to Cairo, the diplomat invited local businessmen to participate in activities in parallel to the summit, and he will do the same in Qatar and Oman, his next two destinations.
Vilalva’s message was confirmed by the secretary general of the League of Arab States, Amr Mussa, who chaired the meeting. "These are two economic blocs that cannot ignore each other. It would be a great mistake for the Arabs to continue doing this. It is never late to start," he declared.
"You are all, therefore, invited to participate in this important event," he added.
Mussa also stated that he would be travelling to Brazil for the summit around one month after having been in the country for the first time, and added that before that he is going to make an official visit to Argentina.
