Argentina again conditions contract to deep-dredge River Plate access canal
Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said that Argentina “is ready to sign” the deep dredging of the River Plane access canal Martin Garcia but warned that before doubts generated by Uruguay’s National Auditing Office regarding the performance of dredgers’ Riovía during the tender process, must be resolved.
“Where there are doubts, there must be light” to clear up things said Timerman in a Sunday interview with the pro government daily “Tiempo Argentino”.
Uruguayan diplomats allege that during the tender process there was an attempt by dredgers’ Riovía to have their contract extended instead of going to all the hassle of a new tender, and for which the company would be ‘particularly’ grateful.
According to the Uruguayan version the Argentine delegate acted as the liaison for such a ‘deal’. Uruguayan diplomats so stated before a Uruguayan parliamentary committee and the Auditing Office also questioned some aspects of the whole process.
Regarding the names of two diplomats, one from Argentina, Roberto García Moritán (former Deputy minister now working for the UN) and Uruguayan ambassador Francisco Bustillo and currently member of the River Plate Administrative Committee, Timerman said that “Argentina received no formal request from the Uruguayan justice” but Uruguay yes, “on July 4 it received a formal request from the Argentine justice which remains unanswered”.
Timerman added that Argentina continues to object the participation of Riovía (Dutch-Argentine company) in the tender for the deep dredging of the Martin Garcia canal because of the ongoing uncertainties of what really happened.
“If members of the Uruguayan government have expressed that there were attempts to bribe or attempts to influence and favour Riovía or that Riovía tried to benefit in an unduly manner, then we must look carefully before signing any contract. How can you sign a contract given that background?”
He added that it remains “nuclear” why “all those claims, that started to filter once we said we were ready to sign, can’t be taken before a court, according to the Uruguayan government”.
Timerman added “it’s hard to understand” why Uruguay has not yet dropped Bustillo’s diplomatic immunity if “we take into account he should be declaring on two different accounts” before the Argentine justice. The first refers to the bribe attempts and the second to the import of expensive cars tax-free and sold to Buenos Aires residents, when he was ambassador in Argentina.
Finally Timerman said that the current episode does not harm “at all” the relation with Uruguay. “I’m convinced of the strategic, historic and overall significance of a good relation with Uruguay”.
The River Plate has two main canals, one leads directly to Buenos Aires and the other runs along the Uruguayan coast and services Nueva Palmira, Uruguay’s main grains, oilseeds and pulp export terminal. The port of Buenos Aires is not interested in having an efficient effective port on the other side of the River Plate and appeals to any excuse to delay the deep dredging process which is needed so vessels don’t leave half full.
Since Argentina started to question Uruguay’s attitude, the Uruguayan government has said there will be no further comments on the issue. Uruguay is waiting for a bilateral private meeting between presidents Jose Mujica and Cristina Fernandez.
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26 comments Feed
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“of course we'll 'honour' our commitment to dredge the channel. But there's this little investigation thing to do 1st, involving an Argentine company being corrupt, and we simply MUST put everything on hold until we can spend the next 10 years 'investigating' the matter. We're sure you understand.”
Argentina behind Uruguays back.
“JA JA JA. We'll keep this tied up in red tape for years, so our ports have NO competition.”
For a 'Uruguayan' you don't seem upset enough. Argentina has been constantly screwing your country over for years, and is continuing to do it.
But then you 'aren't' really Uruguayan are you? Sometimes you forget your supposed to be from Uruguay and your real nationality shows through - Argentine.
Uruguay needs to cede from the treaty and get the dredging done themselves, it'll be quicker and cheaper in the long run.
Aug 13th, 2012 - 07:26 am
This is the 21st century Guzz, progressive, civilised nations like the UK don't like bullying and you are NOT a Uruguayan. You might live there but I'll wager you don't see yourself as a Uruguayan. You say you are on here just to score points but you've slipped up before now and admitted what you really are. An Argentinean and a Malvinista.
It's not as if Argentina do the dredging.
In parliamentary parlance this is filibuster leading to it being 'talked-out'. The Agreement is explicit that this should NOT happen.Power-politics (realpolitik) masquerading as democratic legal process.
Disgusting behaviour.
maybe uruguay should cut a deal with the world bank after all they are a developing country to fund a deep coastal port bypassing argtards economic strangle hold, at the same time lease out an airbase in the south to the UK until the UK carriers are ready ,kills three birds with one stone it protects uruguays border against any retalliation from the Argentines, and a perfect place for the UK to launch a defencive strike against Arg interests if the need should arise, plus extra funds towards Uruguays deep sea port maybe a valuable trading port with FI in the future when the black stuff starts to flow,would be a bonus.
unlikely but just a thought.
Primero que nada, buenos dias…….
This is a complicated issue, ,and, as usual when corruption is involved, everybody has a different version about the ”Why’s”, the ”Who’s” and the ”How’s”……
But I have noticed a ”little discrepancy”………:
MercoPress tells us in two different articles (en.mercopress.com/2012/08/07/uruguay-reacts-with-silence-to-repeated-argentine-provocations) and (en.mercopress.com/2012/08/13/argentina-again-conditions-contract-to-deep-dredge-river-plate-access-canal#).....
…..about a “DUTCH/ARGENTINE” company called “RIOVIA” that attempted to bribe Uruguayan politicians and civil servants………………..
Let’s Google this ”RIOVIA” company……………….............., shall we... ?
Click..., click...., cklickiliclick..., cliclick....., Enter...............:
“www.riovia.com/index.php/en/empresa
About Us: Riovia S.A. is the concessionaire of the dredging works, buoying, maintenance, the administration, and toll collection in the Martin Garcia Channel.
The company was established in Uruguay in 1996 and its head office is situated in the city of Colonia del Sacramento.
Riovia S.A. is a subsidiary of the world's most important dredging company: BOSKALIS INTERNATIONAL B.V., from the Netherlands.”
Oooooooooooooooooooops….................
What happened with the ”DUTCH/ARGENTINE “ company...? ! ?
Miracously it transmuted into an ”URUGUAYAN/DUTCH” company, established in URUGUAY and based in URUGUAY.......
Well….. I don’t know about you…., but to me it seems that the ”Argentinean Dimension” in this ”International Bribe Scandal” has, somehow, diluted a bit……..
No pasarán
El Think
This says something about the calibre of the people actually running Argentina.
Another fact about South American solidarity - The UK is the number two outside investor in Brazil - Brazil only pays lip service to Argentine 'Malvinas bleets'.
If only t'were true! Iraq ring a bell?!
he invaded kuwait wholesale killing and raping on tour, threatening other neighbouring countries with his weapons of mass destruction.
saddam commited genocide ,saddam was lynched!
out of interest do any of these acts above ring your bell?
If they are to stand any chance at all of developing to their potential.
Another stunning obfuscation and attempt on your part to deflect attention from the real problem which is the graft and corruption by the Argentinos on CARP who are getting backhanders to employ Riovia on 'extensions' to the existing contract.
Why are extensions required? Because Timmidman is up to his old tricks and knows full well that delays can only assist Argentina in stymieing Uruguay in their need to fully load the bulkers that use the Martin Garcia channel.
Also, extensions to the contract ensure that the kickbacks continue to the Argies at the expense to Uruguay who have to pay for their end on the contract. So Uruguay ends up paying graft to the Argies.
If only this bunch of crooks in Argentina paid the same attention to the economy of the country as they do to lining their own pockets things would not be so dire for the Argentinean people.
But hey, what do you care, you have your old French/Ruskie watch to play with.
I think the same about you: a war criminal, fat, short, bold headed, impotent, sarcastic with dripping saliva and passing stinking farts 24 hrs. daily...Piuuuu....
Typical british!
He's taking a rest from spinning 'The Great Malvinas Lie'.
Would laugh heartily if after a few years the Falkland Islands end up with a great port facility, and end up with much shipping business after CFK bans them all from Argentina.
This is a win-win situation if ever there was one!!!!
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