Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro on Monday welcomed the public support of the South American Common Market (Mercosur) for his country's accession as a full member.

    Maduro expressed his appreciation after Mercosur issued a document declaring the above stance at its 34th summit in the Uruguayan capital.

    "This document means a great deal to us," he told a press conference.

    Mercosur was founded in 1991 in a bid to promote regional economic integration in Latin America. It now has four full members -- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and five associated members -- Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, besides Venezuela.

    So far, the Argentine and Uruguayan parliaments have endorsed Venezuela's full membership. The Brazilian and Paraguayan lawmakers have to give their green lights before Venezuela can full enjoy the rights as a member.