Lacalle Pou ahead of MERCOSUR summit: “Uruguay is going to play and win on the big field”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Before his visit to Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, to spend Christmas with the Uruguayan military contingent that are part of MONUSCO – the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the Congo –  President Lacalle Pou will travel to Qatar and Brazil alongside Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo.

Bustillo also traveled to Buenos Aires last night to meet with his Argentine counterpart Santiago Cafiero, to negotiate road infrastructure works between the two countries.

The Uruguayan government is seeking to initiate talks with a number of countries prior to the MERCOSUR summit to be held on December 16 and 17 in Brasilia, to be marked by Uruguay’s attempt to seal trade agreements with its regional peers.

Last night, Lacalle Pou spoke at a Spanish Chamber of Uruguay event and made reference to his government’s international policy. “I am not one to say that these issues should be dismissed, but we have to look for accessory or complementary paths”, he said, referring to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between MERCOSUR and the European Union.

And he added that during the MERCOSUR summit he will try to persuade partner countries to move towards a more flexible approach and to open to the world.

“It is well known that some larger countries can afford some luxuries that we cannot. Uruguay is as long as it opens up. And we are going to open up to the world. We said it in the campaign and we are doing it. We have started with China, but others will come. Uruguay will play and win on a big field. Because we trust in Uruguayans. And that is the path we have chosen,” the President said.