Mujica will try to appease ‘lady’ Cristina and have closer links with Dilma
President Jose Mujica travels to Brasilia on Monday for the Mercosur extraordinary summit on Venezuela, but his agenda also includes talking with Cristina Fernandez about the latest clash referred to the dredging of a shared River Plate access canal and with host Dilma Rousseff about his growing proximity to Brazil.
Uruguay/Argentina reached a crucial point last week following months of negotiations to increase the depth of the Martin Garcia canal, crucial for Uruguay’s bulk grains, oilseeds and pulp exports when Uruguay’s government auditing office expressed “doubts” about the transparency of a contract for the maintenance of the River Plate canals involving the company Riovía, a subsidiary from the Dutch corporation Boskalis.
On Saturday Mujica said that until he had a personal chat with the “lady” in reference to President Cristina Fernandez, “I will not make any statements on the issue” particularly the exchange of communiqués between the two foreign ministries which paralyzed all negotiations for the dredging.
Pressed by the media Mujica said that “even if I don’t want, I must have meetings with the lady” and at those meetings “I will bring up any issue which I consider significant” because “I don’t have or need any script to talk”.
However from Buenos Aires President Cristina Fernández said she will be meeting her Uruguayan counterpart, José “Pepe” Mujica but “will not address the issue of the Martin Garcia canal and the dredging as all dialogues and efforts will continue in the hands of the Foreign Ministry led by Héctor Timerman”.
Differences on the dredging are one more of a long list of contentious issued which in recent years have eroded the bilateral relation. However since March 2010 when President Mujica took office he has adopted a negotiation position with Argentina to try and overcome the many trade and diplomatic issues. But this attitude has left Mujica on more than an occasion exposed to serious criticisms from the opposition who claim he is “too soft” with the “lady”.
But Argentina is Uruguay’s third trade partner and a leading investor in real estate and the main source of tourism, all industries crucial to the country’s economy.
In the case of the Martin Garcia canal the Uruguayan audit office somehow confirmed the ongoing rumours of attempted “bribes” (from the Argentine side) by the dredging company to have its contract extended, which infuriated Buenos Aires officials who froze negotiations and banned Riovía from any future tender, thus further delaying the process.
But Mujica given the extenuating efforts demanded from the Argentine side has turned to Brazil, The large neighbour is Uruguay’s main trade partner, and given the good chemistry between the two presidents, (Mujica and Dilma Rousseff) they have advanced in talks for a greater trade and production complementation.
“Brazil means a strategic alliance for Uruguay given its relevance at global level and in this framework we are advancing with accords in several areas”, said Diego Canepa the Deputy Secretary of the Executive.
These include a definitive power inter-connection between the two governments’ main electricity companies and a naval yard pole in Uruguay for the supply to Brazil of small vessels and barges, some of which have already been built for the pulp mills located in Uruguay.
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22 comments Feed
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Very precious, coming from a Britard. You've never liked Europe, and Europe doesn't like you back. You passed centuries slaughtering one another to a degree no other region on earth has known. Says a lot about both you and the continentals, doesn't it.
Try harder next time. I know your 100% anti-British, but please try to state factual references, and not some half-brained tripe.
I feel very sorry for Pepe, can you imagine being hen pecked by Kretina AND Dilma!!!!!!
Iron Idiot. Just like my country, Holland, the ugly brits supported the Nazis. Those are facts, and give yourself a brake by prentending as if YOU where there during ww2. By the way, there is no harmony either in Europe. I personally hate the EU and that fascist organization should be burned.
Another history fact, Brazil did stood up and fought in ww2 against the nazis in Italy. So yes, Forgetit's nation did won some wars and did stood up for freedom, that's why they are a Republic.
What warped version of history are you quoting from. The big book of Argentinian fairy tails ? Read some real history.
It's so bloody stupid that it's almost not worth replying.
I was “there” when the Luftwaffe bombed Glasgow. My father served in the RAF. My aunt was killed in an air raid. My uncle was killed in the Walcherns in 1945.. Another uncle was torpedoed twice while in the Merchant Navy - while this was going on , we really supported the Nazis ? Then the V1 and V2 dropping on SE England - a friendly act from a nation we supported ?
Holland invaded and occupied by their consent - Rotterdam and Amsterdam bombed and the subject to V1 attack later in the war.
Flooding the country and trying to starve the population in 1945.
You are seriously trying to tell me that this was an act from a country that Holland supported.
After every other country in Europe was subjugated by Nazi Germany, we supported the Nazis by standing alone against them and Fascist Italy to our great advantage. Even by your perverse logic, that takes some beating.
You are a complete and utter arsehole !!
I am sorry for that last remark - an arsehole is useful !!
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
But if only pictures could speak,
CFK looking very sheepish,
And the powerful Dilma Rousseff
Staring down at her haying,
Yes, you had better lower your head im my presents,
There’s only on daddy on this continent,
And its me, [got it]
Learn some history, not Hollywood history.
@6 Forgetit
Fully agree.
@8 Ironman
In armed conflicts, Argentina is winning 2-1
They successfully defeated both British invasions of Buenos Aires – again you should read some history.
@12 Fido Dido
“the ugly brits supported the Nazis”, could you expand on that.
ask him,
if the ugly dutch also supported the nazis.
Nice picture of the two ladies btw, as the caption says they both have strong personalities and are both crucial allies for Pepe, a strong personality himself btw (strong enough to stand up to the petty nationalists at home who don't share his strategic vision or pro-unity principles)
”British_Kirchnerist(#20)
Look at the picture (above).
Caption Competition.
Gold Medal for the winner.
Something wicked this way comes1
with apologies to W. Shakespeare
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