“There’s no need for war,” says Lula about the dispute between Maduro and Guyana

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) stated, late this Thursday morning (7), that South America “does not need war and conflict”, in reference to the dispute triggered by Venezuela against Guyana to annex the territory of the province of Essequibo, and which was the target of a unilateral referendum last weekend.

The president’s statement was expected and considered important by the heads of state participating in the 63rd Summit of Heads of State of Mercosur and Associated States, held in Rio de Janeiro this week. Lula is seen by his counterparts – and, mainly, by the Guyanese president, Irfaan Ali – as a mediator of peace in the region.

“One thing we don’t want here in South America is war. We do not need war and conflict. What we need is to build peace, because only with peace can we develop the country and generate wealth”, said Lula at the beginning of this Thursday’s meeting (7).

Lula stated that Venezuela’s dispute over Guyanese territory will be one of the topics discussed during the summit and that Mercosur cannot stay away from this. According to the president, the issue should be dealt with in particular by Celac, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, as a mediator. He has supported the multilateral relationship since the beginning of the new government.

Agreement with the European Union

Also during the opening of the meeting this Thursday (7), Lula stated that he will not give up on closing the Mercosur agreement with the European Union and that he will continue negotiating even after statements to the contrary by French President Emmanuel Macron. A day earlier, vice-president Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) and Minister Mauro Vieira, of Foreign Affairs, stated that the partnership will be closed “soon” and “in the near future”.

“My motto is to never give up, because there is nothing that is impossible for us to achieve, even this attempt at an agreement with the European Union that has already lasted 23 years, but we have to keep trying to do it,” said the PT member. to the other heads of state, signaling that the bloc’s new rotating president, Santiago Peña, must continue trying to advance the negotiations.

In addition to talking about the dispute between Venezuela and Guyana and the implementation of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, Lula paid tribute to Bolivia, which will sign membership to the South American trade bloc this Thursday afternoon (7), and to the president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, who leaves the country’s presidency on the 10th without electing a successor, Economy Minister Sergio Massa.

“This is a farewell meeting, but also an arrival, for our comrade Alberto Fernández, who leaves the presidency of Argentina on the 10th. But, there is the arrival of a new president of Argentina”, said Lula without mentioning Javier Milei, who defeated the government candidate and has been critical of Mercosur.

He also remembered his friendly relationship with Fernández since he was imprisoned in the Federal Police prison, in Curitiba, when he received his visits. “We will always be sure of you as a good, honest, dignified man whose greatest commitment was to defending the interests of the dear Argentine people,” he added.

Lula is leaving the rotating presidency of Mercosur and “handing over the hammer” to Santiago Peña, president of Paraguay, who will now occupy the leadership of the bloc.

More information in a moment.