Brasilia, May 16 (RHC) -- Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota described as inconceivable negotiations of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) with the European Union excluding Argentina, which is a member of the South American regional bloc.

In a press conference in Brasilia with his Argentinean counterpart, Hector Timerman, Patriota said there is no suggestion to consider another format for the negotiations between the two regional blocs.

Patriota and Timerman were questioned about the statements of the Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, that the EU would consider to exclude Argentina from the trade agreement being discussed between the regional bloc and MERCOSUR, which also included Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The Argentinean foreign minister said he was surprised by the statements of Garcia-Margallo, saying it appears to be a throwback to colonial times, when the Spanish Crown decided how countries are made, who governs and with whom they have relations.

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