Stories for October 15th 2003
Bush promises “strong dollar”; US to push for more markets in Pacific.
United States president George Bush pledged full support for a “strong dollar” policy adding that “we expect the markets to reflect the true value of the currency” and “countries need to be mindful that we expect fair trade”.
WTO addresses agriculture.
Exactly one month after the failure of the World Trade Organization meeting in Cancun, Mexico, negotiations resumed in Geneva having agriculture as the leading issue.
EU cautions about strong Euro
Germany's Central Bank president Ernst Weltke cautioned this Tuesday in Frankfort about the negative consequences for European Union exports of a rapid appreciation of the Euro in money markets.
Cuba wants 75% debt relief from Argentina.
Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Rafael Bielsa admitted that Cuba requested a 75% write off from the 1,9 billion US dollars standing debt it has with Argentina. On his way back from the first official visit in 14 years of an Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister to the Fidel Castro regime, Mr. Bielsa said that when you break ground, “you must be prepared to accept similar rules”.
Demand your banks and advisors
Nobel Prize winner economist Joseph Stiglitz said investors who purchased now defaulted Argentine sovereign bonds should demand their banks and financial advisors.
A “constitutional” solution to Bolivian crisis seems closer
The two junior partners of the ruling coalition in Bolivia ratified their support of embattled President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada facing one of the country's most serious civil uprisings and who has resorted to the Army to restore law and order in the capital La Paz.
Change in fisheries policy for Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands Government has amended their fisheries policy in a bid to make the industry more stable and sustainable. The biggest change in the new policy is that it is now a rights based policy rather than a licence allocation only policy.
Record squid catch for the San Matías Gulf.
Squid catches in the San Matías Gulf reached a record 5,535 tonnes, reports Río Negro Fisheries director, Italo Sangiulliano. This is a promising result for the local sector although it is nowhere near the 200,000 to 3000,000 tonne annual production of the two fisheries management units.
