La Paz, March 21 (RHC) – The Bolivian Senate is expected to vote next month for the full incorporation of the country to the Mercosur trade bloc, thus complying with some of the last steps to join the group made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

According to reports from La Paz, lawmakers will vote on April 2nd on the Adhesion Protocol which was sent to the Senate by President Evo Morales in September.

The legislationl already has the support from the Senate's Foreign Affairs committee and contains 13 articles enabling Bolivia to adhere to the Treaty of Asunción; the Ouro Preto protocol and the Olivos protocol for the solution of MERCOSUR controversies.

Once the adhesion protocol is formally signed and enforced, Bolivia will be part of the Mercosur delegations in negotiations with third countries.