Stories for March 2nd 2010
MPs claim UK defense spending on Falklands 50% down in six years
Defense spending on protecting the Falkland Islands has plunged by 50% cent in just six years, it was claimed by a report in London’s Daily Mail.
Spain says Falklands’ dispute is bilateral: EU should refrain from involvement
Spain has declared that the European Union should refrain from any type of involvement in the Falkland Islands dispute, according to the official news agency EFE. A spokesman for the Spanish Government, which currently holds the rotating six-month presidency of the EU, is quoted as saying that “this is not a European matter but a British one, a bilateral affair rather than a regional one.
Britain rejects US offer to help UK and Argentina resolve Falklands’ dispute
Downing Street has rejected an offer from the United States to help the UK and Argentina resolve their latest dispute over the Falkland Islands. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the offer after renewed tensions were triggered with the beginning of a round of exploratory oil drilling in the Islands’ waters.
An estimated 3.000 passengers waiting in Punta Arenas to fly back to Santiago
Almost 3.000 people remained stranded Monday in Magallanes region, extreme south Chile, since Saturday’ devastating quake forced the temporary closure of Santiago’s main air terminal, according to reports in Punta Arenas.
Falklands: Argentina formally request Hillary Clinton US mediation
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner formally requested visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the United States act as intermediate in the Argentine-United Kingdom Falkland Islands dispute.
Thousands of Chilean troops sent to prevent looting in quake-hit Concepción
Chilean president Michelle Bachelet sent on Monday thousands of extra troops to the main quake disaster area in the city of Concepcion as angry and hungry residents set fire to department stores.
EU demands more efforts from Greece to reduce deficit
The European Union top finance chief said Monday that the Euro-zone is prepared to take concerted action to support Greece, but he emphasized that Greece needs to make more of an effort to reduce its deficit.
Lan resumes 15% of flights; priority bringing to Santiago stranded passengers
Beginning Tuesday Lan Airlines resumes flying a skeleton national and international schedule out of a tent at the Santiago airport, according to a short notice from the Chilean flag carrier company.
Uruguay: Mujica calls for political dialogue and commitment to Mercosur
Jose “Pepe” Mujica, (74) who decades ago served time in prison for taking up arms against Uruguay's “bourgeois state” was sworn in Monday as the country's new president. In his main speech he called for dialogue and regional integration.
Hillary Clinton praises Uruguayan democratic system as “very strong”
United States Secretary of States Hillary Clinton described the Uruguayan democracy as “very strong” and praised the solidity of its political system. Mrs. Clinton was in Montevideo on Monday, for a few hours, representing President Barack Obama in the inauguration ceremony of Uruguayan president Jose Mujica.
