MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Silver Shadow” in Montevideo

Rumsfeld to visit Chile; September inflation 0,8%; Exports and foreign debt.

"Silver Shadow" in Montevideo

"Silver Shadow" arriving in Montevideo next November 17th will be officially inaugurating the cruise season in Uruguay. The eleven decks 187 metres long vessel will be carrying 380 passengers and after Montevideo and Punta del Este will be heading for the South Atlantic. "Silver Shadow" first visited Montevideo in November 2000 when her inaugural trip and was back a year later. She belongs to SIlversea Cruises and cost 220 million US dollars. According to the Uruguayan Tourist Office a total of 64 cruise vessels will be visiting either Montevideo o Punta del Este this coming season.

Rumsfeld to visit Chile

United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirmed that he will participate in the fifth conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas to be held in Santiago next November 18th. This is the first meeting of this type in the Americas since the September 11th terrorist attacks and the United States feels it must be present with its the top officials said Chilean Defence Minister Michelle Bachelet currently visiting the United States and Canada. "Regional security problems and the capability of American countries to respond to the new threats of international terrorist attacks will be the main issues of the agenda", indicated Ms. Bachelet. Chilean Defence Minister said the United States considers Chile a "serious and reliable country", adding that the F 16 fighter bombers contract purchased in the United States for the Chilean Air Force "is coming along as scheduled". Ms. Bachelet will also be meeting UN Secretary General Koi Annan and Canadian Defence Secretary John Mc Callum.

September inflation 0,8%

Chilean consumer price index in September was 0,8%, the highest in the year, accumulating 2,5% in the last nine months and 2,3% in twelve months, according to the Chilean Statistics Institute. Maximo Aguilera head of the Institute said that "fuel, fruit and fresh vegetables prices had a particular influence in September", denying there was a direct influence with the US dollar, in spite of the rapid, and unexpected devaluation of the Chilean currency during 2002. The August 2002 index was 0,4%. Food, transport, housing, health and clothing with the highest variation helped to push the September index. Excluding fuel, fresh fruit and vegetables, the consumer index was 0,3%. "We're confident that we can keep to the inflation estimates projected for this year, that is in the range of 3%", said Mr. Aguilera.

Exports and foreign debt

According to the latest release of the Chilean Central Bank, the country's foreign debt increased 808 million US dollars last August totalling 38,84 billion US dollars in the first eight months of 2002. Of that total, 32,56 billion US dollars correspond to the private sector and 6,28 billion to the public sector. In the private sector non financial institutions commitments total 27,36 billion US dollars; financial institutions 2,78 billion US dollars and foreign agents 2,43 billion. Most of Chile's debt is mid and long term, 32 billion US dollars, and 6,8 billion short term. Regarding foreign trade, in the first nine months of 2002 Chile reported a 2,1 billion US dollars surplus with exports totalling 13,1 billion and imports 11,02 billion US dollars. The Chilean Central Bank Monetary Council also announced this week that is was keeping the basic interest rate unchanged at 3%

Ciro Gomes supports Lula

Former centre left candidate Ciro Gomes announced his full, "unrestricted and enthusiastic" support for Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in the October 27th run off for the Brazilian presidency. "Lula is who really represents the needs of the country", said Gomes who received 12% of the votes in last Sunday's election, sufficient to ensure Mr. da Silva's 47% the needed 50% plus one. "The Brazilian people chose for the second round two candidates: one that repeats the current economic model and another that is very close to us in their criticism to that model", said Mr. Gomes during a press conference in Rio do Janeiro. Mr. Gomes revealed that the same night of the first round "Lula rang me up and requested our support. I said I was at his orders but before I must consult with the party, and our Popular Socialist unanimously approved a resolution offering that support. It's up to Lula to decide how he will instrument our contribution". "Nothing more coherent for a candidacy as mine, unable to be present in the run offs, than to support Mr. Lula", underlined Mr. Gomes.