Mercosur

• Tuesday, November 11th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile apologizes to Argentina for espionage incident.

  Chilean Foreign Secretary Soledad Alvear this Monday formally apologized to the Argentine Ambassador in the name of the Chilean government, for the military espionage attempt at the Argentine consulate in Punta Arenas.

• Monday, November 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Rift over President Kirchner's economic policies.

  Argentine Minister of Interior Anibal Fernández ratified this Sunday that no public utility rates will be modified until all contracts have been reviewed, adding that those companies that did not keep to contract “will have the concession rescinded”.

• Monday, November 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  A more flexible FTAA.

  Delegates from United States and fifteen other hemispheric countries meeting over the weekend in Virginia have apparently discovered the word “flexibility” which should help push aside fears of failure in the coming Free Trade Association of the Americas, FTAA, and ministerial summit to be held in Miami.

• Monday, November 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Per capita income, 3,700 US dollars.

  Argentina's per capita income after dropping 60% in 2002 will reach 3,700 US dollars in 2004, which is still below Chile and Mexico, and a mere 7% of the average Swiss per capita income.

• Monday, November 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  “Privatizations are successful”.

  The privatization process of government companies in Latinamerica during the eighties and nineties has been overwhelmingly successful, in spite of popular perception to the contrary according to a report published by the Interamerican Development Bank, IDB.

• Monday, November 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  World trade remains stagnant.

  World trade expanded 3% in real terms during 2002, half the annual average rate of the last decade according to a report from the World Trade Organization, “World Trade Statistics 2003” released in Geneva.

• Saturday, November 8th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Greenpeace requests info on radioactive load

  Greenpeace has once again requested Argentine Foreign Affairs officials to demand their Australian counterparts exact information as to the course of the “Fret Messelle” that is carrying nuclear waste, as well as evidence to support the statement “that the vessel will not be crossing Cape Horn”.

• Saturday, November 8th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Kofi Annan lobbies for UN reforms.

  United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said in Chile that there can be no further delays with reforms and the functioning process of the UN Security Council.

• Saturday, November 8th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Chavez promises to stay on until 2021

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez said this Friday that he will be involved in politics until 2021 when he'll be 67. However Mr. Chávez was also quiet clear that he has no intention of leaving office until then.

• Saturday, November 8th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  “Crystal Symphony” starts cruise season in Buenos Aires

  The 940 passengers of the “Crystal Symphony” officially inaugurated the 2003/04 cruise season in Argentina that this year is expecting sixty vessels with 70,000 visitors.