Argentina/Uruguay towns celebrate first month with no pickets
The Argentine city of Gualeguaychú and Fray Bentos across the shared River Uruguay celebrated Monday the first month of the end to pickets that since 2006 had impeded traffic and trade across the international bridge linking the two neighbouring locations.
The pickets on the Argentine side were organized to protest the building on the Uruguayan side of the river, next to Fray Bentos, of the Botnia/UPM pulp mill one of the largest private sector investments in the country in decades.
Since the lifting of the pickets thousands have crossed both ways and transport and bus companies are beginning to normalize their schedules.
The so called ‘Gualeguaychú assembly” of residents and environmentalists argue that the pulp mill in spite of having been built to the highest European Union standards contaminates and is a threat for the regional water and air habitat.
This led to a prolonged, irritating diplomatic dispute between Argentina and Uruguay which ended only a few weeks ago when the International Court of Justice at The Hague ruled that given the current measurement parameters, the plant did not pollute but pointed to Uruguay for not having informed Argentina of the construction of the pulp mill, following on a statute for the joint management of the water course dating back to 1975.
The Court also recommended both countries agree on a joint monitoring of the River Uruguay which the two governments are in the process of elaborating.
With the open bridge business delegations from both sides met Sunday in Fray Bentos to re-launch relations and agreed to a second meeting in Argentina to decide on an agenda that includes cultural, sports and tourism activities.
Meantime in Montevideo late Monday it was announced that Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro will be travelling to Buenos Aires to meet with his counterpart Hector Timmerman to advance in the exchange of proposals for monitoring the River Uruguay.
According to the Argentine Foreign Affairs communiqué Timerman will propose a two stage approach: monitoring the Botnia/UPM plant and any possible consequences on the water course because of its activities, and in a second phase decide how to control and prevent contamination all along the River Uruguay which acts as a natural border between the two countries and is straddled with urban populations, factories and intensive farming.
The time table of the conflict stalled since 2006 found a way out on April 20 with the ruling from the International Court of Justice.
On June 2 presidents Jose Mujica and Cristina Kirchner agreed on a road map, and on June 19 the Gualeguaychú assembly ended pickets, --for two months--, waiting for actions from both governments.
On June 29, Timerman presented Uruguay the Argentine proposal for monitoring the river and on July 5 Uruguay responded. This week’s ministerial meeting should anticipate when and how the monitoring is going to take place.
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34 comments Feed
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Argentina wants to extend the monitoring inside the private plant w/ out monitoring their highly polluting industries at their side of the river. UPM (ex-Botnia) so far has not said a word regarding the argentinean proposal. The “piketeros” (self made “environmentalists”) are demanding the “inspection”. If negotiations don't go their way, they will block the bridge again.
Argentina is bulling the Uruguayan government w/out considering our sovereignty. UPM can deny access and their insane demands, similar to the Falklands.
“”” A little touristic message for all of you on the “Old Car” (min 6:30 - 6:45)
il.youtube.com/watch?v=QFrXqC77POc
Enjoy “””
Here is a working one....
il.youtube.com/watch?v=QFrXqC77POc
AND Twinky repeating him/her/itself.
1 month and one day open.
Congratulations
www.cadtm.org/International-Court-of-Justice
1 month and two days open.
Congratulations
“not even mentioning the farmers rights to their traditional way of life”
Wonder where Uruguay got the idea that ignoring other people's rights was OK?
EU is not de-foresting Uruguay the Eucalyptus trees were planted 20 years ago so Uruguay could develop the pulp mill, try not to deceive us.
Please tell me how the farmers way of life has changed because of Botnia?
If you remember Botnia wanted to put this in Argentina but the bribes they had to pay got out of control so at the last minute they moved it to Uruguay. That is why the Entre Rios Governor is mad and allowed the bridge to be blocked in the first place.
think British, think happiness, think freedom, hate Argentina, you sly old fox, we knew you were a secret British admirer, all you guys, only pretend to like Argentina, but all the time want to be British,
hearts and minds [think] hearts and minds
1 month and three days open. (Moscow time)
Congratulations
If Argentina keeps on pushing peace loving peoples to war, then they [Argentina] should be broken up into little counties or settlements, and banned from having a military, until they learn to grow up, and live in the real world,
Pretty soon 1 month and four days open. (Auckland time)
Congratulations
Reported you, yahoo.
Yuhuuuu
Pretty soon 1 month and four days open
sadly your date has just been scrapped due to cutbacks lol
Pretty soon 1 month and five days open. (Auckland time)
www.elnuevoherald.com/2010/07/24/771264/concretan-detalles-de-acuerdo.html
Agreement to be signed on Monday
We keep celebrating!!!
C'mon guys.....
The picketing by so-called “environmentalists” was just another prime example of argie bully-boy tactics using rent-a-mob heavies and gobshytes who have less environmental awareness than my little finger.
You've shot yourself in the foot again!!
LOL!!
And as the article's title goes:
Argentina/Uruguay towns celebrate first month with no pickets
I wish to celebrate with them!
Liberté, égalité, fraternité with our Uruguayan brothers!
Regards
El Think
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhLzDC6bLPE&feature=related
Pretty soon 1 month and six days open.
Congratulations
Ok boys ....... end of story.... It's signed... By both presidents :-)
www.clarin.com/politica/Cristina-Mujica-destrabar-monitoreo-Botnia_0_306569544.html
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