Uruguayan President Luis Lacaye Pou was in Paraguay this weekend (May 13-15), where he held a meeting with his Paraguayan counterpart Mario Abbo Benítez on Saturday, and was also awarded the National Order of Merit in the degree of "Collar Mariscal Francisco Solano López" on Sunday, a decoration that is awarded exclusively to heads of state.
President Lacalle Pou stated that he takes the decoration as “a commitment” to advance integration.
"We have an opportunity like never before, due to Paraguay's economic and productive growth and the constant port vocation, not only of Montevideo but of our entire country, to move forward in that direction. I have long been convinced that Uruguay is Paraguay's natural outlet to the sea," said Lacalle Pou.
Meanwhile, in a joint statement made on Sunday, Lacalle Pou said that Uruguay has a “vocation” to be “the hub port” of the region. In addition, He reiterated that Mercosur needs to “open up to the world”"I recognize Paraguay's attitude of non-opposition, I understand the legitimate interests. It is very important not to have that explicit obstacle, at least, when today in Mercosur we are having that discussion of modernization that is so important for us," he added.
Lacalle Pou's visit to Paraguay occurred one month after the transfer of the presidency of Mercosur for the next semester from Paraguay to UruguayThe Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said after Saturday's meeting that the focus was on aspects of trade relations and integration.
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