Entry into force of the UNASUR Constitutive Treaty

The Brazilian Government welcomes the news that, on 9 February 2011, Uruguay deposited the ratification instrument of the Constitutive Treaty of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) with the Ecuadorian Government, depositary of the Agreement.

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela have already ratified the document, thus fulfilling the requisite of nine ratifications for the entry into force of the Treaty, to take place next 11 March, thirty days after the 9th ratification, as provided for in the instrument.

In Brazil, the Treaty has already been approved by the Committees on External Relations and National Defense and on Constitution and Justice and Citizenship of the Chamber of Deputies.

The Brazilian Government will soon send the Additional Protocol to the Constitutive Treaty of UNASUR on Commitment to Democracy, signed in November 2010 at the Georgetown Summit, to the National Congress. The Additional Protocol creates a “democratic clause”, by means of which the Member States reinforce their commitment to the promotion, defense and protection of the democratic order in South America.

The entry into force of the Constitutive Treaty represents an essential step towards the consolidation of UNASUR