Union of South American Nations in Mitad del Mundo, Ecuador, where the cornerstone was laid for the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Union. In April 2018, six countries suspended membership: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru. In August 2018, Colombia announced its withdrawal from the organization. At the Third South American Summit on 8 December 2004, presidents or representatives from 12 South American nations signed the "Cusco Declaration", a two-page statement of intent announcing the foundation of the South American Community. Panama and Mexico attended the signing ceremony as observers in Brazil. The mechanics of the new entity came out of the
Union of South American Nations 2014, UNASUR general secretary Ernesto Samper announced, "We have approved the concept of South American citizenship," including the creation of a single passport. UNASUR has also initiated the creation of electoral monitor teams that could replace the monitors from the Organization of American States. <br> The following territories situated outside South America are part of member states and therefore participate: The following parts of South America are or were territories of non-South American states and therefore do not participate: Union of South American Nations The Union of South American Nations (USAN; , UNASUR; , UNASUL; , UZAN; and sometimes referred