(16 Dec 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of hotel where Mercosur trade bloc foreign ministers' meeting is taking place
2. Mid of flags
3. Wide of military personnel in front of hotel
4. Mid of military personnel and artillery
5. Wide of armed soldier standing by, watching over incoming traffic
6. Close of armed soldier
7. Pan of opening of Mercosur foreign ministers' meeting
8. Mid of Paraguayan delegation
9. Wide of meeting
10. Mid of meeting
11. Mid of Syrian delegation
12. Mid of photographers
13. Mid of Syrian delegation
14. Tilt up of Syrian representative signing agreement
15. Mid of Turkish delegation signing agreement
16. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Celso Amorim, Brazilian Foreign Minister:
"At this signing of agreements we saw several representatives from all over the world, we saw countries from all four corners of the world. Some of these countries are developed, others are developing. We have signed agreements with Syria and with the Palestinian state, which we are hoping will lead to a Free Trade Agreement. We signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates, we signed another agreement with Australia and New Zealand, which we are also hoping will lead to a Free Trade Agreement. We also signed an agreement with Cuba. It is very important for Cuba to become closer to Mercosur in order to help Cuba evolve and become more integrated into the world stage. So, this agreement had a political aspect to it as well. Not of interference, but of political participation."
17. Mid of Cuban representative, Carlos Raael Zamora
18. Mid of Colombian and Peruvian delegates
19. Wide of photo op
20. Mid of photo op with delegates waving
STORYLINE
Foreign ministers and representatives from the Mercosur trade bloc broadened the South American group's borders on Thursday, as they signed new economic agreements with several countries from around the world.
Australia, Syria, New Zealand, Turkey, Cuba and Pakistan, were all among the countries who were present at the group's annual summit, held this year in the southern Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu.
Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told reporters many of those treaties should lead to free trade agreements with the four-country member trade group.
Amorim also confirmed the creation of a new Mercosur license plate and the creation of more Mercosur immigration entrance points in Brazil.
Amorim highlighted the importance of Mercosur's approximation to Cuba, which could help boost the Caribbean country's economy.
"It is very important for Cuba to become closer to Mercosur in order to help Cuba evolve and become more integrated into the world stage. So, this agreement had a political aspect to it as well. Not of interference, but of political participation," Amorim said.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is scheduled to meet with Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo and Uruguayan president Jose Mujica ahead of the Mercosur president's meeting on Friday.
Silva, who is leaving office on January 1st, is also scheduled to meet with Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.
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