Leaders pose for photos during the extraordinary summit of the South-American Union of Nations (UNASUR) in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, May 23, 2008. Leaders of 12 South-American countries signed in Brasilia Friday morning the treaty to set up the UNASUR. (Xinhua/Chen Weihua) Photo Gallery>>>

    BRASILIA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Presidents of 12 South-American countries signed in Brasilia Friday morning the treaty to set up the South-American Union of Nations (UNASUR).

    The UNASUR is formed by Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Equator, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and Surname.

The extraordinary summit of the South-American Union of Nations (UNASUR) is held in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, May 23, 2008. Leaders of 12 South-American countries signed in Brasilia Friday morning the treaty to set up the UNASUR. (Xinhua/Radiobras) Photo Gallery>>>

    The principal objects of the UNASUR intent to strengthen the political dialogue between states members and the regional integration, especially in the areas of economy, finances, social development and culture.

Chile's Bachelet assumes rotating presidency of UNASUR

Bolivian President Evo Morales (L), Brazilian President Lula da Silva (C) and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet shake hands to greet Bachelet with accepting the rotating presidency of the Union of South-American nations (UNASUR) during the extraordinary summit of the UNASUR in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, May 23, 2008. Leaders of 12 South-American countries signed in Brasilia Friday morning the treaty to set up the UNASUR. (Xinhua/Radiobras) Photo Gallery>>>

    BRASILIA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, instead of Colombia's Alvaro Uribe, accepted the rotating presidency of the Union of South-American nations (UNASUR) in Brasilia on Friday.

    Bachelet received this nomination from Bolivian President Evo Morales, who actually should pass the presidency to Uribe, but the latter declined, because of the conflict between his country, Ecuador and Venezuela, caused by the Colombian attack against a FARC camp in Ecuador.

    After having accepted her functions, Bachelet said before her South-American counterparts that she would seek the consensus and use all the possible energy to put onto right way the South-American unity.  Full story

S. American countries to provide solutions for food crisis

    BRASILIA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- South American countries will provide solutions for the world food crisis, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said here Friday at the summit of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur).

    "When food shortage threatens social peace in many parts of the world, many people come to our region to look for answers," said Lula. Full story