Latin American leaders launch new regional bloc

COLOMBIA’S President Ivan Duque said Friday he had discussed with several Latin American counterparts the possibility of offering asylum to Venezuelan servicemen who desert President Nicolas Maduro’s regime.

Duque said the initia- in Santiago to launch the tive -- which he said could new regional Forum for the spark a “domino effect” Progress of South America to draw power away from (PROSUR). Maduro’s regime -- was Pinera and Duque were discussed with Chile’s Sebastian behind the idea of creating Pinera and other a new bloc to replace UNASUR, Latin American leaders on a largely defunct the sidelines of a meeting to organization created in launch a new regional bloc. 2008 by late Venezuelan

Seven right wing South leader Hugo Chavez and American presidents -- including his leftist Brazilian counterpart, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro Luiz Inacio Lula and Colombia’s da Silva.

Ivan Duque -- gathered The move came at a time when many Latin American countries were led by leftist governments, a trend reversed in recent years.

“It’s a good day for collaboration, dialogue, mutual understanding and integration in South America, because for more than five years the presidents of South America have not had the opportunity to meet,” said Pinera.

Among the “essential conditions” for joining the bloc are “the full validity of democracy” -- which rules out Venezuela, which was not invited to the meeting. Most of the leaders present had already dismissed Maduro as illegitimate and recognize his opposition rival Juan Guaido as interim president.

The organization will be “phased in” and will have a “flexible, lightweight, inexpensive structure with clear operating rules and a simple decision making mechanism that will advance concrete agreements,” a statement said.

Uruguay and Bolivia, ruled by leftist governments, sent representatives to the meeting but did not join the bloc.

Duque told Channel 23 television that widespread asylum for Venezuelan troops “is an issue we have been talking to several governments about after the events of February 23,” when Maduro’s forces blocked humanitarian aid from entering Venezuela.

Duque said he hoped to provoke a “massive movement of troops” from Maduro’s powerful army.

Duque said that up to now Colombia has given shelter to 1,200 Venezuelan military deserters.