Latin American Leaders oppose US Military Interference
UNASUR Seeks to Boost Regional Integration


Global Research, August 12, 2009
GRANMA


The Summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) will take place in Buenos Aires, and will focus on the danger of US military bases in Colombia

QUITO, August 10.— Presidents and heads of State of South American countries signed the Quito Declaration on Monday, which emphasizes in the importance of integration and cooperation for the region, as a strategy to jointly face the world economic crisis.

GROUP LEADERS.

"In view of the deterioration of the basic wellbeing of million of citizens in our region, we reaffirm the need to boost sustainable development, bearing in mind the concepts of freedom and social inclusion," states the document signed by the heads of State of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

The declaration highlights the commitment to create help and cooperation mechanisms for the countries most badly hit by the crisis, in order to strengthen integration.

The document reaffirms the commitment to democracy as the only system to face the current challenges and giving more hope and opportunities to our peoples.

The heads of State said that talks and negotiations are the only way to settle differences, and build peace and long lasting coexistence.

"We will not recognize, in any way, the alteration of institutional, democratic order," the text reads, and it also condemns the coup d´etat in Honduras and demands the immediate restitution of the constitutionally elected president of that country, Manuel Zelaya.

INTERMEZZO

President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, warned that the seven military bases the United States are to create in Colombia pose a threat for the region. "I'm fulfilling my moral obligation to warn you that the winds of war are beginning to blow," he said and noted that this situation could end tragically.

Argentinean President Cristina Fernández also warned of the warmongering climate that in an unprecedented, intolerable way is arising in South America. Fernandez offered the city of Buenos Aires as the venue for the extraordinary meeting, where Colombian President, Ã