8 South American Countries To Relaunch The Amazon Parliament

December 17, 2007 4:48 p.m. EST

Caracas, Venezuela (AHN) - Eight South American nations that share the Amazon rainforest will relaunch the Amazon Parliament on March 2008. The regional parliament hasn't met since 2001, after the assembly was criticized by foreign groups.

Zulay Zambrano, executive secretary of the Amazon Parliament, said Bolivian President Evo Morales, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have confirmed they will attend the relaunch. The presidents of Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru and Suriname are also expected to attend the March summit, which will be held in Venezuela.

Zambrano said she is convincing the eight nations to send official delegations to strengthen the organization, especially against foreign influences that want to continue benefiting from the Amazon rainforest.

"Today after the Latin American awakening and evolution, we have assumed this responsibility and Venezuela has strongly supported the decision of retaking the institution," Zambrano said.

The Amazon covers 2.3 million square miles (6 million square kilometers) and holds 20 percent of the world's potable water, aside from vast mineral deposits.

Regional cooperation is getting stronger in Southern America with most of its presidents enjoying wide support from their constituents amid a wave of anti-western sentiments. Last month the Banco Sur was launched to provide development financing to the region.