At Mercosur Summit in Uruguay

CFK wants 'an area of peace and democracy'

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner expressed her will to help "build an area of peace and democracy," during the Mercosur summit's closing ceremony, in Montevideo (Uruguay).

CFK underlined that "it is very important that people understand that peace and democracy come together," before standing firm on the Mercosur organization's values: "The democratic values of the Mercosur are nonnegotiable, non-elastic but are firm and convincing," she said, in a clear reference of the organization's decision not to recognize the results of the elections in Honduras, after President Zelaya was ousted by the military.

"Peace cannot be built in a region were some governments were not elected in a complete and legal democratic way," she claimed.

The Argentine President also underlined the role of democracy in the stability of the region. "What allowed us to preserve peace in the region is the fact that we representing democratically-elected governments," she emphasized.

CFK gave the example of her visit last week to the Vatican with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, for the celebration of the Beagle Canal peace treaty, which allowed Argentina and Chile to avoid war, 25 years ago.