Argentine President Mauricio Macri, today called for the release of political prisoners in Venezuela, during his speech at the summit of Heads of State of Mercosur, held in Asuncion.
"I want to express here in front of the Heads of State of Mercosur members for the early release of political prisoners in Venezuela, because in the States parties can be no room for political persecution for ideological reasons or for thinking differently," said Macri.
He added that his government sees "pleased that Venezuela took" the results of the last legislative elections in which the opposition triumphed, while calling for "prudence Venezuela's opposition after the elections".
However, he noted that his "vision of democracy is not only going to the polls, democracy is a way of life, (one) pact of coexistence."
"I think when friends came to ask a little more democracy in the twentieth century surpassed (the) dictatorship and never said more military governments," he said.
Macri, debuting at this summit on the international stage, was speaking to the Chancellor of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, who replaces the president of the Caribbean country, Nicolas Maduro, who did not attend the summit by "internal commitments," according to Paraguay , host country.
At the meeting Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes were also found; that of Uruguay, Tabare Vazquez; the president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff; besides Evo Morales, head of state of Bolivia, a country acceding to the block, and Michelle Bachelet, the highest authority of Chile, Associated State.
Macri also was "very optimistic" about the future of the block that looks "full opportunity" and who asked to bet on strengthening internal trade relations and the world to reduce inequality in the region.
"There will always be difficulties, tensions as well," he said.
"We must not be discouraged or lose confidence in this union, Mercosur is a long term project," he said in his appearance before the other leaders.
Macri said the flexibility and adaptability of the Mercosur and announced that they are "times of increasingly rapid and profound changes."
EFE