The leaders of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) set yesterday next Aprilas deadline for all member countries to ratify its treaty and to choose a permanent secretary general.

Presidents of member countries of UNASUR held a private meeting yesterday in Sauipe Coast, in north-eastern Brazil.

During the extraordinary summit, the presidents discussed "procedures and concepts" of UNASUR and also "deadlines" to ratify the treaty establishing the organism, said Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who holds the presidency of UNASUR until next April.

About the choice of candidates to the post of permanent secretary general, Bachelet told the media "There is one big line that expresses the will of all the presidents and we want to have a permanent secretary general on broad consensus among all countries."

Bachelet acknowledged that there is a "discussion" within the UNASUR about the scope of "consensus" and conceded that some countries "are better hurry, because they feel it is very important to have immediately a permanent secretary general."

Until now, only Bolivia and Venezuela have ratified the treaty, the remaining 10 countries -- Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam and Uruguay -- has to ratify it yet.

"Once the treaty is ratified by all countries, we'll begin to choose the secretary general by consensus," Bachelet said.