BUENOS AIRES - A meeting between the countries of Common Market of the South (Mercosur) held in Buenos Aires was halted on Tuesday because the Paraguayan delegation requested a break to watch the World Cup match between its national team and Japan.

The meeting began short before 10:00 a.m. local time (1300 GMT), but it concluded before 11:00 a.m. local time (1400 GMT), just before the kickoff of the Paraguay vs Japan match, despite the displeasure of the Brazilian delegation.

"We will return at 1:00 p.m. (1600 GMT) to have a meeting with the embassy and later we will return at 5:30 p.m. to discuss with the European delegation," Brazilian officers told Xinhua.

The Paraguayan delegation said "we continue negotiating, and they will sign whatever we agree," while watching the match, Argentine and Uruguayan delegates said.

According to the Uruguayan delegate, "the meeting of this morning was tactic" to finish "publishing the details of the common posture toward Europe and to achieve a bigger access to the European market."