Mercosur

• Friday, September 5th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  World Bank puts pressure on Argentina.

  The World Bank estimates the Argentine economy this year will expand 5% and to sustain that rate of growth will need new investments and consequently increase public utility rates and further advance in pending structural reforms.

• Thursday, September 4th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Bush signs free trade accords with Chile and Singapore

  U.S. President George W. Bush signed free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore Wednesday, saying that they would contribute to the economic growth of the three countries.

• Thursday, September 4th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula courting Brazil's biggest political party

  Brazil's president, a former Marxist firebrand-turned-pragmatist, is allying himself with his country's biggest party, one to the right of center, promising it a share of government power and a united front in next year's local elections.

• Wednesday, September 3rd 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil fears failure in the WTO Cancun round.

  Brazil fears that the coming World Trade Organization meeting scheduled for next week in Mexico could end as happened with the 1999 Seattle summit, as one of the worst trade round failures ever, according to Ambassador Colodoaldo Hugueney.

• Wednesday, September 3rd 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur and EU will continue negotiations.

  The European Union and Mercosur will continue negotiations leading to an association agreement including free trade, “immediately after” the World Trade Organization meeting scheduled for next week in Cancún, Mexico according to a spokesperson from the European Commission.

• Tuesday, September 2nd 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF-Argentina frustrated and confronted.

  Differences regarding budget surplus, utility rates and compensations for banks losses as a result of the 2002 devaluation of the currency are frustrating negotiations for a long term agreement between Argentina and the International Monetary Fund, IMF.

• Monday, September 1st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  “The Confession”.

  Argentine retired Gen. Ramon Diaz Bessone acknowledged on a French television show that will be broadcast on Monday, that thousands of people were tortured and executed clandestinely during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship.

• Sunday, August 31st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  ARA Libertad visits Portsmouth.

  The Argentine Navy sail training frigate last week ARA Libertad paid an informal visit to Portsmouth, Britain, and is now expected in Zeebrugge, Belgium.

• Saturday, August 30th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile, Argentina urges rich countries to cut greenhouse emissions

  Argentina and Chile on Friday agreed to jointly study climatic changes here in the southern tip of South America and urged the developed countries to reduce their emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

• Friday, August 29th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil in recession.

  The Brazilian economy has technically fallen into recession alter two consecutive quarters of negative growth according to the latest release from the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute, IBGE.