Tuesday, July 27th 2010 - 02:09 UTC

Uruguay/Argentina agree water-monitoring negotiations are “not blocked”

Discussions for the joint monitoring of the River Uruguay with Argentina are “not blocked” and “we have a very strong commitment with the on-going negotiations” said Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro following Monday morning’s ministerial cabinet meeting headed by President Jose Mujica.

Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro determined to find a solution to the dispute

Uruguay and Argentina are negotiating the terms and conditions for the monitoring of the shared waters of the river where the Uruguayan pulp mill UPM/Botnia operates and which is at the heart of a dispute, allegedly because of the contamination risks.

“Negotiations are not blocked and Argentina currently has the Uruguayan proposal for the monitoring under consideration. We are in a reflection period and we are working for the proposals’ convergence, probably sometime late this week”, said Almagro.

From Buenos Aires Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman reiterated that solving the pulp mill issue with Uruguay is a “priority” and added that “I will always have time to mend relations with Uruguay. It is a priority for both countries”.

The Uruguayan official did not reveal details of the “negotiation process” although he emphasized that both sides have agreed that “science and only science will be responsible for the monitoring”.

Furthermore, “who goes into the (Botnia/UPM) plant for the monitoring and who doesn’t is out of the question”.

Almagro insisted that Uruguay will never shut down negotiations “and we are going to look for a definitive solution; that’s our objective and all our efforts are directed to that goal”.

Last Wednesday when Uruguay presented Argentina with its monitoring proposal both sides agreed on a 48 hour ‘reflection period’ but on Friday there was no meeting at ministerial level (Almagro-Timerman) as was anticipated, and over the weekend both sides publicly exchanged non converging statements about the negotiations.

However on Monday statements were back on course and the international agenda of Almagro and Timerman (Unasur ministerial meeting in Ecuador and Mercosur summit in Argentina) should give them the opportunity to address the issue away from domestic pressure in Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

 

Published in: Politics, Argentina, Uruguay.
Tags: Argentina, Hector Timerman, José Mujica, Luis Almagro, Uruguay, Uruguay River.

9 comments Feed

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1 Hoytred (#) Jul 27th, 2010 - 05:10 am Report abuse
No worries Think .... only a day late although reading this article I can't quite see what the problem is.

Still going with the old 'science is fact' approach I see ........ which I 've always found to be true ............ right up until the next scientist turns up :-)
2 Think (#) Jul 27th, 2010 - 06:41 am Report abuse
G'day young one...

For the benefit of other intelligent posters besides you (Beef and.........upsss, short list!)
I include my previous post in another thread:
”Jul 25th, 2010
Correction
Just been twitted....
No signing on Monday (26/07/10)....
Too busy an Agenda.....
Possible new date 03/08/10.
Sory for the inconvenience...
See you at La Rambla....
Chau “”

Personally I think the announcement will be made personally next week by Cristina and Pepe.
Good political points to be scored there....
3 Liberty (#) Jul 27th, 2010 - 12:03 pm Report abuse
The question for this “joker”, he looks that just came out of the joker's character of a Batman movie is: Did you ask or have the approval of UPM to let argentinians inspectors inside a PRIVATE plant on PRIVATE land?...Time will tell !!
4 Think (#) Jul 27th, 2010 - 12:24 pm Report abuse
THIMC
UPM Fray Bentos Pulp Mill is not opposing in situ inspections for the incredible simple reason that they have noting to hide.........
And they could really use some extra and (at the moment) cheaper eucalyptus tree from Argentina....
5 Liberty (#) Jul 27th, 2010 - 12:48 pm Report abuse
4 Think: Well, maybe you're right, really. I hope you guys get 2 new paper pulp mills in Corrientes. I heard that UPM has interest up there.
6 harrier61 (#) Jul 27th, 2010 - 04:04 pm Report abuse
“Not blocked”. Just not going anywhere!
7 Think (#) Jul 27th, 2010 - 05:46 pm Report abuse
(5) Liberty; Well, for sure I'm seldom wrong, really.
8 avargas2001 (#) Jul 28th, 2010 - 05:26 am Report abuse
ok, we should make sure that every barrel of chemichal, or otherways waste toxic materials is acounted for in the way in or out of the plant, and that there is a secretariat in the area to monitor this, and aprove the continuation of the pulpmill operation on a monthly bases, the secretariat should aslo make sure that NO timber is taken from areas other then the proposed, or otherways already contracted land owners, the proposal for timber allocated for cutting on either side of the border should be writen withing 120 days to give a chance for enviornmentalist and the secretariat to do a fact finding, and ecological impact on the foreign or local resources, the procedural scheme should be scrutinized by the secretariat during these 120 days period.
some things to consider when dealing with the lumber industry can be found here.
news.mongabay.com/2010/0708-neme_operation_jurupari.html
9 harrier61 (#) Jul 28th, 2010 - 10:10 am Report abuse
Just so long as there are no Argentines trying to make the rules in the sovereign state of Uruguay.

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