MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Breaking News

Too many immigrants / Chile after new trade links / “I feel am a gaucho” / Another trouble spot? / US spurs trade round with Chile / Extra digit in Chilean cellular

Too many immigrants
Almost 70% of Spaniards consider there are too many immigrants in the country and 60% link them to the increase in crime, according to a poll released this week in Madrid. Of the 1,000 people interviewed by the Opina Institute, 75% said Spanish President José Aznar must pass legislation limiting the arrival of new immigrants and 86% demanded an understanding on the issue among political parties with legislative representation. However 25% said they were satisfied with the current Aznar administration efforts to curtail illegal immigration. When asked if Spaniards have become more intolerant towards immigrants, 66% replied affirmatively. And as to the reasons, 19% of those interviewed link illegal immigration to rising crime; 17% because they are cheap labor limiting working opportunities for the locals; another 17% believe there are "too many immigrants" and 11% fear "racism attacks". The poll did not discriminate immigrants by origin, but Spain is faced with two main sources of immigration: from North Africa, overall considered non desirable, and from Latinamerica. Spaniards are ambiguous towards Latinamericans since vast majorities have Spanish roots, but their impact in the labor market, both qualified and none qualified, is generating a growing resentment.

Chile after new trade links
Literally just hours after signing a historic free trade agreement with the European Union, a delegation of Chilean businessmen headed by Economy Minister Jorge Rodríguez is visiting Spain, and particularly Galicia, with the purpose of attracting investors. Mr. Rodríguez said that the recent trade agreement with the EU is an excellent framework for middle sized companies to invest in Chile, "since the big companies are already established. We're talking of companies in areas such as fisheries, wineries, fruit farming and the leather industry". A Galician delegation is expected to visit Chile in early July to explore the opportunities of the new agreement. Mr. Rodríguez emphasized the close links with Galicia; --most Spanish descendants in Chile come from that region--, and the fact that Chile can become a trading platform for ventures in Asia and Oceania. "In Chile, Spaniards, particularly Galician are treated as nationals", remarked Mr. Rodríguez, adding that the trade agreement now enables foreign companies total ownership of fishing companies previously limited to 49%. "Even with a local market of 15 million, since signing with the Europeans we've become more attractive for Asia and this is an excellent platform for Spanish expansion in the Pacific basin", underlined Mr. Rodríguez. The delegation is expected to visit other European countries to promote investments and trade with Chile.

"I feel am a gaucho"
Pope John Paul II said he felt he was a "gaucho" after holding a private twenty minutes audience with Brazilian president Fernando Cardoso who is visiting Italy and the Vatican. "I feel am a gaucho", said the Pope, and President Cardoso replied that not only was "his Holiness a gaucho, but a carioca and a Brazilian" in direct reference to the country with most Catholics in the world. Following the special audience in the Paul VI Aula, Pope John Paul II addressed several thousand Brazilians and Spaniards in Saint Peter's Square where they had convened to celebrate the canonizing of Brazil's first female saint, Paulina del Corazón Agonizante de Jesús and Spaniard Alonso de Orozco. The new Brazilian saint whose real name was Amabile Lucia Visintainer was born in Italy in 1875 and died in Sao Paulo in 1942. She was beatified by the Pope in the city of Florianopolis when his Holiness visited Brazil in 1991. This is the third time President Cardoso, an agnostic Sociology professor, visits the Pope in the Vatican, with previous audiences in 1997 and 1999. The Brazilian delegation besides President Cardoso, Mrs. Cardoso and their 8 years old grandson, included Sao Paulo governor Gerardo Akmin, Santa Catalina governor Esperidiao Amin and his wife who also happens to be mayor of the city of Florianopolis. Brazil is holding presidential and legislative elections next October and a picture with the Pope is quiet a boost for the electorate of the country with the greatest Catholic population.

Another trouble spot?
Disapproval of Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo climbed to 69% following a week of street protests and criticism of his administration's economic policies, according to a poll published in the leading Lima newspaper "El Comercio" over the weekend. In Lima and the adjoining port city of El Callao where most of the Peruvian population is concentrated, Mr. Toledo's lack of popularity rose another three points and those who support him dropped to 22%. Mr. Toledo has been in office for less than a year and is confronting a serious credibility problem since 65% of those interviewed simply do not believe him, a percentage just below the country's two last presidents, Alan García, 67%, and Alberto Fujimori, 70%. Over half of Lima's populations (53%) believe their family's economic situation has worsened during the last twelve months and 35% are convinced things will not improve next year. However the poll also indicated that a significant proportion of the Lima population does not have a true grasp of the Toledo administration's policies particularly in the economic field, and therefore "it is possible to revert the situation and credibility gap". For example Peruvians apparently are willing to accept "privatization of energy generating plants if the government guarantees greater investment and jobs in the area of influence of these utilities". Furthermore, in spite of the extent of the strikes last week, Peruvians overwhelmingly favor peaceful demonstrations and reject violent street protesting.

US spurs trade round with Chile
Spurred by the European Union-Chile agreement, Unites States and Chilean Trade representatives agreed that five of the negotiating groups meet during the last week of May and an assessment session of the current process be held June 13th. in Washington. According to the Chilean press, Mr. Osvaldo Rosales from the US and the Chilean delegate Regina Vargo agreed on the agenda that includes those groups that for different reasons did not meet during the previous round of talks held in Santiago last April. Those groups are Services and Investment; Sanitary and Phyto sanitary; Intellectual Property and Financial Services. June 13th, the whole picture will be analyzed and dates for the new rounds of the different groups will be agreed. Since the mid nineties Chile, --the country in South America with the lowest tariffs and most open economy--, has been battling for a bilateral agreement with Nafta, North America Free Trade Association members and managed to achieve them with Mexico and Canada. Talks with the United States are in the last leg but much depends on the Bush Administration's ability to obtain a special authority from Congress.

Extra digit in Chilean cellular
As of next July 5th, Chilean cellular phones will have an additional digit at the beginning of their current seven digits. Chilean Communications Under Secretary Christian Nicolai said the operation has been coordinated with private companies and is direct consequence of the rapid expansion of the cellular phone system in Chile. "At the moment companies need more numbers in spite of the fact that with seven digits up to ten million combinations are possible. However some combinations are needed for other internal purposes", indicated Mr. Nicolai Users will therefore have to place a 9 before the seven digits, and any new cellular number contracted as of July 5th, will work with an 8 before the seven digits. "The new service will be implemented as of July 5th, and we estimate that the whole operation can be concluded in a month. To guide cellular clients we will publicize in all the media and in phone recordings the new system so people don't forget to add the extra digit", stressed Mr. Nicolai.