Unasur Joins United Nations as Observer

The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) transcended the continental sphere to become a global institution by gaining a seat at the United Nations as an observer,  a status which allows it to join UN work.

The UNASUR observer status was adopted by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs and unanimously by 193 member states. This approval will be ratified by a General Assembly resolution in November, when the final integration of the South American  bloc into the UN will take place.

The UNASUR application for membership  as a UN observer  was presented in the 66th Session of the General Assembly by the Permanent Mission of Guyana, which holds the Presidency  Pro Tempore of the South American group.

Venezuela, through its permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Jorge Valero, highlighted that UNASUR is a demonstration of the benefits offered by the integration processes in multi-ethnic and multicultural societies that share a common history and geography, and which move forward with a broader cultural, social, economic and political agenda between their peoples.

Within the framework of the debate to consider the adhesion of the intergovernmental organization, Valero stressed that the twelve UNASUR member countries aim to overcome socio-economic inequality, achieve social inclusion, civic participation and strengthen the sovereignty and independence of states.

The draft resolution was sponsored by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela, which were accompanied by other nations that represent different geographical regions of the world, including Antigua and Barbuda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, El Salvador, Cuba, Belize, Portugal, Barbados, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Luxembourg, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uganda, Spain, Pakistan and Nicaragua.

The representatives of these countries highlighted the important role UNASUR plays and will play by recognizing that it is an intergovernmental organization committed to promoting dialogue and strengthening cooperation with other regions’ groups, states and international organizations.

They also said that the observer status in the General Assembly will be a natural extension of that commitment to the United Nations.

The UNASUR incorporation into the UN coincides the V UNASUR Summit of Heads of State, which will be held in late October in Paraguay.

Translated by DCI-MinCI and edited by Venezuelanalysis.com