September 02, 2016•Update: September 03, 2016
By Senabri Silvestre
SANTO DOMINGO, Dom. Rep.
The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) is convening an “extraordinary meeting” to discuss the “regional implications” of the dismissal of Dilma Rousseff as Brazil’s president.
The ouster of Rousseff by the Senate on Wednesday “generates concern” and have regional implications whose examinations justify the encounter, the regional bloc said in a statement posted on its website Thursday.
UNASUR chief and former President of Colombia Ernesto Samper began a round of talks with foreign ministers in the region, it added.
Rousseff’s dismissal on grounds she violated fiduciary responsibilities in the lead up to elections in 2014 was considered a “profound injustice” by Uruguay, which highlighted the role of the now former Brazilian president in strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
“Uruguay hopes that in the framework of democratic institutions, the Brazilian people reach their goals of stability and development,” it said in a statement.
Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela on Wednesday also rejected Rousseff’s removal and called it a “parliamentary coup”.
Ecuador and Bolivia have recalled their ambassadors in protest.
The 12-member Quito-based political and economic bloc is composed by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela.
