Venezuela Accuses Macri of Wanting to Destroy Mercosur

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said Thursday that Argentine President Mauricio Macri is trying to destroy the regional trading bloc of Mercosur, which also includes Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

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"Macri seeks the destruction of Mercosur, fulfilling a script from the U.S. which leads him to commit historical errors," Rodriguez said on Twitter.

Uruguay transferred the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur to Venezuela on July 29, and according to the Foreign Ministry of Uruguay there were no legal impediments to prevent the handover, even though Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay were all against the move.

"Venezuela, respectful of the law and in full exercise of the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur, will not allow its destruction," said Rodriguez.

Macri said during a televised interview in Argentina on Wednesday that the human rights situation in Venezuela "is a disaster" and that the Caribbean country cannot possibly exercise the presidency of Mercosur because it has not met the requirements of becoming a full member.

"That's the same arrogant deafness that doesn’t allow him to listen to the Argentine people, who are today plunged into despair of a neoliberal and undemocratic government," said Rodriguez.