From venezuelanalysis
Caracas, Venezuela, October 16, 2005—Uruguay, the country that currently heads up the four-member Common Market of the South, known as Mercosur, informed the public yesterday that Venezuela is scheduled to become a full member of the organization in December. Currently, Mercosur's full members are Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Venezuela has been an associate member since July 2004 and applied to become a full member three months ago. Other Mercosur associate members are Chile and Bolivia.Mercosur's four principal members unanimously approved Venezuela's request to become a full member. Reinaldo Gargano, Uruguay’s foreign minister, made the announcement during a press conference in Salamanca, Spain, where leaders from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal are gathered for the 15th Ibero-American Summit.
Venezuela's inclusion in Mercosur, "will give a new dimension to Mercosur, as it will reach from the Caribbean to Tierra del Fuego [Chile], and makes it possible that the Community of Andean Nations [CAN] and Mercosur unite in a single free trade association with formidable power in the world," said Gargano.
