Santiago, Chile, Mar 10 (Prensa Latina) Defense ministers from the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) are to foster in private sessions here on Tuesday mutual confidence in the region through dialogue and integration.

Ministers from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay, and Venezuela were welcomed at La Moneda Palace by President Michelle Bachelet.

This country is the pro tempore president of the group. Chilean Minister Jose Goni stated that the new South American Defense Council (SADC) does not aim to create a military force like the NATO, but "to encourage an alliance to foster mutual confidence through integration, dialogue and cooperation in defense."

The SADC seeks to strengthen South America as a "peacekeeping zone, a base for democratic stability and the peoples' integral development," Goni noted.

The entity, which expects to meet once a year, held Monday its first technical event, attended by deputy ministers and delegates, while ministers held private bilateral meetings, according to reports.

The 12 UNASUR ministers will meet today after laying wreaths at the monument erected to Bernardo O'Higgins, located in front of La Moneda Palace.

The agenda also includes issues like defense policies, military cooperation, humanitarian actions and peacekeeping operations, industry and defense technology and training.