From: sangu@igc.apc.org (David Sangurima)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.latin-america
Subject: IPS:LATIN AMERICA-Parlatino inaugur
Date: 17 Dec 92 04:01:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1473800417:000:3085
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!sangu    Dec 16 20:01:00 1992


From: David Sangurima <sangu>
Subject: IPS:LATIN AMERICA-Parlatino inaugur

/* Written  9:55 pm  Dec 15, 1992 by jbinder@igc.apc.org in igc:reg.samerica */
/* ---------- "IPS:LATIN AMERICA-Parlatino inaugur" ---------- */
From: James Binder <jbinder>
Subject: IPS:LATIN AMERICA-Parlatino inaugurated

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: LATIN AMERICA: REGIONAL PARILIAMENT INAUGURATED


sao paulo, dec 11 (ips) -- with calls for concrete action against
poverty and towards regional integration, the latin american
parliament (parlatino) was inaugurated friday in sao paulo,
brazil.

''there is no time for talk, we need to take concrete steps to
unify laws, form a latin american community and elaborate
programmes to combat the poverty in our nations,'' venezuelan
deputy luis corona said.

according to corona, president of venezuela's delegation to
parlatino, the site will be ''an important catalyst'' in the
process of regional integration.

sao paulo state governor luis antonio fleury said that latin
america was distinct from other regions in the world and as such
must achieve integration ''with much more urgency.''

''while the rich countries unite and share markets, we are
still isolated and trying to pay off a social debt that has
accumulated since colonisation,'' fleury said.

on friday, following the inauguration, parlatino deputies met
and formed a permanent commission of mining and energy, to be
presided by brazilian deputy basco furlani.

in addition, it was announced that the next full meeting of
the parliament will take place in february and the agenda will
include the defense of human rights and the fight against the
drug trade.

the parlatino building was constructed by the sao paulo state
government at the ''latin american memorial'' cultural centre, a
complex designed by architect oscar niemayer, in the western area
this of the city (located 900 kilometers south of the capital).

the new parlatino, also designed by niemayer, is a five-story,
7,000 square meter building, that cost some 26 million dollars to
construct.

some local media have criticised the costs and complained that
the state government has dedicated 10.5 million dollars to help
pay parlatino's costs over the next three years.

state secretary of culture adilson monteiro alves justified
the costs saying ''sao paulo will become the political and
cultural capital of latin america.''

''parlatino is the first international organism with its
permanent site in brazil,'' said ney lopes, president of the
brazilian delegation to the regional organisation.
(more/ips)
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latin america: regional (2)

parlatino was created 28 years ago, with the goal of promoting
regional integration.  it is financed by its 22 member nations
and outside donations.

the regional organism is not open to direct elections, as in
the current european parliament. its delegations are selected by
the governments of each member nation.
(end/ips/trd/so/mv/gc/eli/92)
----