The president-elect of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, said this Friday (29) that he was optimistic about the conclusion of a trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union after discussing the matter with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, days before his country to host a summit meeting of the South American bloc.
Orsi made the statements in Brasília, after meeting with Lula, who recently stated that he hopes to sign the agreement with the European bloc this year.
Orsi reinforced the importance of Uruguay’s relationship with Brazil and brought a message of satisfaction from the country’s current president, Lacalle Pou, for the partnership between the two countries, regardless of the elected government. “For us, it is important to know that Brazil is always willing to collaborate with us,” he said. Orsi beat center-right opponent Álvaro Delgado of the National Party, who was supported by Lacalle Pou.
Bilateral meeting
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the elected president of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, met to discuss bilateral relations and the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, which could be signed soon. According to Orsi, the situation of negotiations with the Europeans will be analyzed at the next Mercosur Summit, next week, in Montevideo, capital of Uruguay.
“We are optimistic, as Mercosur and as a region, we are optimistic about the possibility of continuing to strengthen ties with other regions, fundamentally with Europe”, said the Uruguayan in a statement to the press upon leaving the meeting, at Palácio do Planalto.
For him, the relationship between South American countries needs to be “stronger than ever” in the face of a world in turmoil, under “intense changes” and with a “high degree of unpredictability”.
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According to a note from the Presidency, during the meeting, Lula declared himself happy with the Uruguayan democratic process and with Orsi’s election. The candidate of the left-wing Frente Amplio coalition won the second round of the presidential elections last Sunday (24), in a victory that marks the return to power of the party led by former Uruguayan president José Mujica, a personal friend of Lula.
*With information from Reuters and Agência Brasil
