Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Friday is attending the Fourth Summit of Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in Georgetown, Guayana, the Foreign Ministry’s website reports.
“The Union of South American Nations became an instrument of regional cooperation and unity, even more effective than the Organization of American States (OAS). This organization is more homogeneous, more integrated and with more common purposes than the OAS,” president of the Second Senate Commission, Guillermo Garcia Realpe told Vanguardia.com.
The heads of state at the summit will be electing a new secretary general of UNASUR, as Nestor Kirchner, who held this office, died on October 27.
Political analyst Alejo Vargas explained that “there is no clear designation of this post, as some believe that former President of Uruguy Tabare Vasquez should be the next secretary general, while others think that the General Secretariat must remain in the country holding the rotating presidency.”
The members countries of the UNASUR are also expected to reach an agreement on border closures when a nations suffers a potential coup d’etat. In late September when Ecuador was affected by internal political turbulence Colombia and Peru closed their borders to demonstrate respect of democracy.