The declaration was approved by the representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela during the 14th Meeting of the ALADI Council of Ministers that took place this week in Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital.

During the meeting, Cuban Government Minister Ricardo Cabrisas said that ALADI should strengthen its work in the search for its own integration initiatives.

According to Granma news daily, Cabrisas highlighted the importance of ALADI for underdeveloped nations that face the intentions and efforts of developed countries "to impose their economic interests and maintain their international trade advantages."

The Cuban minister recalled that trade liberalization, far from solving the existing inequalities, have increased the gap between the rich and the poor.

Cabrisas added that "we share the aspiration to improve the living conditions of our peoples and we have an integrating project that can help us, which is the 1980 Treaty of Montevideo. Within this Treaty and respecting its principles (...) we should consider other approaches and experiences that may accelerate a really integrating process within ALADI."

(ACN)