Foreign Affairs Minister reaffirms commitment to regional integration

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd on Monday reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to regional integration as he met with Foreign Affairs counterparts from various countries for the Progress and Integration of South America (PROSUR) forum.

“We are resolute in our commitment to working with the membership of PROSUR to advance the programme of work under the six thematic areas: infrastructure, health, energy, security, defence, and disaster risk management,” Minister Todd said.
Further, he noted the importance of democracy in the region, while recognising the consequences of violating such.
“The consolidation of regional integration requires the practice of democracy and the implementation of democratic principles by Member States through free and fair elections, the separation of powers, the respect of human rights and other fundamental freedoms…Failure to adhere to these practices can have consequences,” he continued.
This meeting was held in preparation for the Summit of the Heads of State of PROSUR, which will be held on December 12, 2020.
PROSUR was launched in 2019 following division amongst Members States of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). The regional mechanism provides a platform for the integration of South America through dialogue, coordination, and regional cooperation among the body’s eight Member States: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay.