MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Carrasco Airport recovers. Cannabis in Falklands bound reefer.

Uruguay's main airport, Carrasco, which for the last few years was condemned as a hub supplier for Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, could begin recovering as a direct consequence of the Argentine situation.

Following the drastic drop in passenger demand in Argentina, many companies are cutting the number of flights, (American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta, British Airways, Air France) to Ezeiza, and some considering diverting flights to Carrasco airport in Uruguay. British officials have expressed an interest in resuming talks to update the Uruguayan-British bilateral agreement, which dates back to 1948, and as recently as 1999, was shelved following a "non understanding" statement. Apparently London is interested in having British companies operating from Uruguay under the fifth liberty agreement, which entitles a company to carry passengers regionally. However a stumbling block persists. Pluna the Uruguayan flag carrier is now under Brazilian control and Britain until the latest talks with Uruguayan officials was not willing to grant the reciprocity implicit in the fifth liberty because it could benefit Brazilian interests operating in the United Kingdom. Some of the additional benefits for airlines operating in Uruguay is that the country has no restrictions regarding monetary or banking regulations.

Cannabis in Falklands bound reefer

A Chilean reefer ready to sail for the Falklands was detained in Punta Arenas and several crew members arrested for possession of cannabis, according to the local press.Apparently last Saturday early morning, "Unión Sur" was anchored in the bay and preparing to leave when it received a surprise visit from the Chilean Coast Guard with a search warrant. Although Judicial officials did not provide details of the Punta Arenas arrests and the quantity of drugs involved, Chilean police sources indicated it was part of a greater operation which began last October in Valparaiso-Santiago and extended to several other ports. Apparently drugs were either mailed or carried by friendly and willing transporters operating along the Chilean coast. The arrests in Punta Arenas which included several night spots was considered a "success". The cannabis sequestered in the "Unión Sur", allegedly is of Paraguayan origin according to Punta Arenas reports.

Fuel prices increase in Chile

Beginning this Monday fuel prices (gasoline, diesel, propane gas