Brussels, 30/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Disappointed at the lack of progress in Pan-American negotiations, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia are to try to secure free-trade pacts with the Union, with the United States and with Canada, declared President Alvaro Uribe, stipulating that the fifth member of the Andean Community, Venezuela, would not be joining in this effort. He said that the trade ministers of the four partners would begin with Washington, "in the coming weeks, to try to improve the scenario for our exports in a permanent manner". The Europeans have already been invited on several occasions to engage along these lines but for now use "Doha" as an excuse, as well as the need to undertake a feasibility study and the absence of a genuine customs union to be able to negotiate with the Andean countries (see EUROPE of 18 and 13/05/2002).