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UNASUR to introduce free movement of people within the region

The so-called concept of South American passport means free travelling across the region, receiving education and jobs in any part of the continent, and mutual recognition of higher education diplomas

Jose Mujica, Rafael Correa and Ernesto Samper AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa

Jose Mujica, Rafael Correa and Ernesto Samper

© AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa

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BOGOTA, December 5. /TASS/. The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) has prepared a concept for “South American citizenship,” which will let all people living on the continent to travel freely within the region, the organization’s head Ernesto Samper said at the Union’s summit on Thursday.

“We have adopted a concept of South American citizenship, which means free travelling across the region, receiving education and jobs in any part of the continent, and mutual recognition of higher education diplomas. This right is granted to 450-500 million people living in South America’s 18 million square kilometers,” Samper said. “Symbolically, we call it the South American passport.”

The Union’s leader said the concept, which is similar to the Schengen zone in Europe, will be the first sop towards free movement of people within countries of the union.

“The South American passport seems to become a most important achievement of this summit,” Samper said.

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