Mercosur

• Monday, April 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine public debt jumped 25,8 billion US dollars.

  Argentina's public debt increased 25,841 billion US dollars during 2003 because of accrued interests to creditors and the appreciation of the peso, Euro and Yen vis-à-vis the US dollar, announced the Argentine Ministry of Economy.

• Monday, April 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “Maya V” crewmembers back in Punta Arenas.

  Most Chilean crewmembers of the Uruguayan flagged longliner “Maya V” apprehended by Australian authorities, arrived last Sunday in Punta Arenas to an emotive family reception, reports La Prensa Austral. No officials were present.

• Sunday, April 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  CAN and Mercosur agree tariff reduction.

  Early Sunday dawn and after eight exhausting years of negotiations, three of the five members of the Andean Community of Nations, CAN, signed in Buenos Aires a free trade agreement with Mercosur.

• Saturday, April 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Malvinas will be recovered with “dialogue and peace”

  “Malvinas will be Argentine through dialogue and peace”, said Argentine president Nestor Kirchner during the main commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the Falkland Islands war that took place in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.

• Friday, April 2nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “Cautious optimism” about the region's future.

  “The storm is gone, recession is gone”, but the situation can't go further than a “cautious optimism”, warned Enrique Iglesias, president of the Interamerican Development Bank, IDB, during the closing ceremony of the bank's 45th annual assembly that was held this week in Lima, Peru.

• Friday, April 2nd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Convicted “Maya V” crew leave Australia.

  Nearly all of the crew members arrested aboard the Uruguayan flagged longliner “Maya V” will leave Australia within 72 hours, a court was told today (April 1, 2002) in Perth, Western Australia.

• Thursday, April 1st 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguayan economy forecasted to grow 9%

  The Uruguayan economy is poised to expand 9% in 2004 given the boom in exports and private investment announced Uruguayan Economy Minister Isaac Alfie during the annual assembly of the Interamerican Development Bank, IDB, in Lima.

• Thursday, April 1st 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile-South Korea free trade agreement

  The free trade agreement between Chile and South Korea becomes effective this Thursday, meaning 87,2% of Chilean exports will have access with zero tariff.

• Thursday, April 1st 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina rations natural gas supply to Chile

  Chilean Economy and Energy Minister Jorge Rodríguez confirmed in Santiago that beginning April 1, Argentina will ration the flow of natural gas, the country's main supplier.

• Wednesday, March 31st 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina: “crisis manageable” and 220 volts restored

  With help from Brazil, Bolivia and Venezuela the Argentine Electricity Wholesale Market Agency, Cammesa, ordered this Tuesday the resumption of 220 volts tension in the national grid, 24 hours after having decided a 5% drop, to 209 volts, to help confront the country's growing energy shortage.