MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

South America News

Headlines:
Improvements for Punta Arenas airport; Chile compensates Spanish family; Terminals for cruise vessels; Chile exports beef to Japan; Abattoir controversy in Punta Arenas

Chilean Civilian Aviation Department authorities are investing over 1,5 million US dollars in improving air strip illumination and the fire extinguishing system in Punta Arenas airport. The new lights and accessory equipment system for runway 3012 will demand almost a million US dollars and should be ready by the end of the first quarter of next year. Once finally installed and tested Punta Arenas airport will have three runways fully illuminated for night operations. This week also the airport received the new mobile fire fighting equipment at an estimated cost of 550,000 US dollars. "They are basically hydrant trucks fully equipped similar to those in the most modern airports, so regarding safety and security, Punta Arenas now rates among the best air terminals in the world", said Mr. Nelson Ibañez, Director of Punta Arenas airport. "The equipment was around for some time, but we chose this week for the official blessing and presentation because we're celebrating another anniversary of our local terminal", pointed out Mr. Ibáñez.

Chile compensates Spanish family

Chilean government officials and the family of Spanish diplomat Carmelo Soria murdered by General Pinochet forces in 1976 have reached a friendly compensation agreement involving two million US dollars according to Santiago press reports. The family's solicitor Alfonso Insunza said the agreement was discussed with Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza in the frame work of the Inter-American Human Rights Committee, CIDH. Carmelo Soria was a United Nations diplomat stationed in Santiago when he was abducted and later killed in 1976 by the notorious National Intelligence Service, DINA, of the Pinochet regime. In 1996, after the intervention of the Supreme Court exhausted legal actions in Chile, Mr. Soria's daughter Carmen appealed to the CIDH charging the government of Chile with "denial of justice". In December 1999 the CIDH, that is the Justice branch of the Organization of American States, OAS, accepted the petition and recommended the Chilean government to proceed with taking to court "those responsible for the killing". The agreement will be formalized in September by the Chilean Foreign Affairs Ministry and it includes the reopening of the criminal case in the framework of the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of the Interior plus the 2 million US dollars compensation. However the Soria family will desist of pursuing its civil demand against the Chilean government that was presented two years ago requesting compensation equivalent to 3,5 million US dollars. The two million dollars compensation payment is similar to a 1992 ruling by a US Bryan Committee involving the family of former Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister Orlando Letelier, killed in a DINA financed attack in the heart of Washington in 1976. Since July 14th. July 1976 when the Soria family recovered the viciously tortured body of their father dumped in a channel in Santiago, they began a long legal battle which enabled to identify the killers, but not punish them since the military involved were benefited by a Pinochet regime amnesty bill.

Terminals for cruise vessels

The international consulting firm Deloitte & Touche in association with Argentine contractors Torcello y Cía are launching an ambitious plan to build port terminals for cruise vessels in twenty cities in Asia, Mediterranean and Latinamerica. The two billion project will be officially presented during the first week of September to a consortium of international banks interested in financing the operation that in South America includes Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia. "We already have the financial draft and our next step is talking to such banks as HSBC, (British-Chinese), BBVA (Spanish), BNL (Italian) and Santander (Spanish)", indicated in Buenos Aires Mr. Julio Torcello head of the Argentine branch of the association. On the technical side Torcello & Deloitte will be supported by the Port of Genoa authorities, who manage one of Italy's main ports. The three have also associated to bid for the coming privatization of the Chilean port of Valparaíso.

Chile exports beef to Japan

Chile formalized this week its first shipment of beef to Japan and in coming days will do something similar with Israel. Chilean president Ricardo Lagos and Agriculture Minister Jaime Campos Quiroga were present at the event held in the Lo Valledor abattoir. "This is the result of a co-ordinated effort between the government and farmers that will transform cattle breeding in our country, making Chile a net exporter of beef", said Mr. Campos Quiroga adding that the country's target by 2006 Chile is to export 40 million US dollars of top grade beef products. Mr. Campos Quiroga revealed that for over two years now cattle farmers have consistently improved breeds, management and complied with the most rigorous sanitary systems procedures. "In the last six months we've multiplied by ten our beef sales to Central America compared to last year, and we also have free trade agreements with countries in the five continents enabling us to launch our incipient beef export project". Regarding beef imports, 43,000 tons in the first six months of 2003, Brazil is the main supplier (66%) followed by Paraguay and Uruguay. "Chile is the only country in South America fully free of foot and mouth disease without vaccination and we've virtually eradicated brucellosis and tuberculosis from our beef herd, which is a great plus in trade terms", underlined the Chilean Agriculture Minister. Chile's "Agriculture Development Program", currently being drafted by government and the private sector anticipates the need to double the cattle herd in the next ten years.

Abattoir controversy in Punta Arenas

Magallanes farmers associations are concerned that the main abattoir in the area could end as a private monopoly if the regional government finally decides to disengage itself from the industry. "It's not quiet clear yet what will be happening, but it doesn't make sense just to privatize, what we need is to improve is competitiveness in the meat market", said Pablo Sapunar, president of the Magallanes Farmers Association. "The Sacor abattoir has played an important role in promoting overseas sales and our main concern is that it could end as a private monopoly, if government finally sells the plant", said Mr. Sapunar indicating that a possible solution is for the farmers associated or in a cooperative to set up their own abattoir to ensure "we have competition, and therefore more efficiency and improved marketing policies". Further on Mr. Sapunar said the Production Promotion Corporation never discarded the farmers' abattoir option, "but we need a lot of thinking, organization and much financing before the idea becomes a reality. Meantime Sacor should remain under government management. We have our differences, even complaints, but we always work out an understanding with Sacor".