Brazil and the US took opposite directions on the crisis in Paraguay, with Brasilia again criticizing the report of the head of the Organization of American States on the subject and Washington endorsing the text and the idea that there is no reason to suspend Asunción from the OAS.
"The OAS has not adopted any position," said Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota in the Senate hearing yesterday, referring to the session the day before of the body in Washington.
" was a manifestation of the Secretary-General that does not reflect the consensus of the Member States."
The lack of consensus in the group of 34 countries is clear: there are those who want to suspend the country from the Permanent Council; those who are willing to examine the report and other proposals; and those who, like the secretary, argue that a punishment just ten months before the election would harm only the Paraguayan population.
In the latter group are the US, Canada, Mexico and some Central American countries, while in the first are Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uruguay, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
"We're still in a deliberative phase," said Patriota. "Brazil coordinating with the countries of UNASUR and maintains the same position" as MERCOSUR and UNASUR, regarding the suspension.
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