MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New round, in New York, of the river Uruguay pulp mills dispute

Botnia - Orion ready to begin production

Representatives from Argentina and Uruguay are scheduled to meet in New York at the end of the month to continue searching for solution to the paper mills conflict. This will be the third meeting under the coordination of Spanish ambassador Juan Antonio Ya&ntildeez Barnuevo envoy from the King of Spain that is asking as a facilitator between the neighbouring countries.

As happened for the second meeting last May both countries are sending technical delegations. The two countries are confronted over the construction of a paper mill on the Uruguayan side of a shared river which Argentina argues is highly contaminating and was decided in violation of the 1975 river Uruguay joint administration agreement, which obliges both sides to consult each other on the use of water from the river course. The meeting in New York will take place following Uruguay's presentation before the International Court of The Hague, in reply to Argentina's claim from January 15 that Uruguay violated the River Uruguay statute on five occasions. "Our idea is to make the presentation on July 19, one day before expiration date to reply the demand", anticipated Uruguayan ambassador in France Hector Gross Espiel. The dialogue process sponsored by the Spanish Crown and defined as "facilitating" efforts to find a solution to the dispute was launched at political level in Madrid with King Juan Carlos formally present at the meeting. Some of the issues considered at the meeting included the relocation of the Botnia plant under construction and diverting with pipe lines any potential contamination in the area which on the Argentine side is up in arms believing the pulp mill means the end of the pristine wild life and the tourism industry. Argentine residents have organized pickets and have blocked access to bridges linking the neighbouring countries. But in spite of Spain's insistence no significant advances have been achieved since the pulp mill is scheduled to begin production in October and pickets remain firmly established in the three heads of bridges linking both neighbours in spite of Uruguay's protests about damage to the country's economy.