MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

News from South America

Chile opens to Argentine beef; Military rattling in Venezuela; Argentina reviews Antarctic operation; Antarctic climbing expedition;

Chile opens to Argentine beef

After almost twenty months Chile lifted the ban to Argentine beef imports. Chile closed its borders in March 2001 following several outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in neighbouring Argentina. The Chilean decision took into account "the absence of outbreaks, minimum viral activity, high vaccination coverage and high level of vaccine protection", according to Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service. The decision follows a Chilean sanitary and risk assessment in Argentina that concluded with a favourable report that recommended lifting the ban in the framework of the existent sanitary legislation.

Military rattling in Venezuela

A day after a massive civilian protest rally, a group of fourteen Venezuelan high ranking officers called upon the Armed Forces to disavow the "autocratic and de-legitimized" regime of President Hugo Chávez and declare themselves in "civil disobedience" as contemplated in the country's Constitution. General Enrique Medina Gómez who is under investigation following the frustrated coup of last April read a statement on national television attributed to the dissident group inviting other officers to join the "legitimate disobedience" movement. The release appeals to the creation of "a liberated national territory under the institutional Armed Forces", and extends the civil disobedience call "to the rest of the Venezuelan people". However vice president José Vicente Rangel described the operation as a "farce" and insisted that everything is normal in the Armed Forces and the country overall. "Nothing has happened, President Chavéz is working in the Government House", said Mr. Rangel adding that all the officers involved have no troop command since they are under investigation following the frustrated coup of last April. Civil resistance to what is described as president Chávez "autocratic" style of government and the collapse of the Venezuelan economy have dangerously divided the Venezuelan society.

Argentina reviews Antarctic operation

According to press reports in Buenos Aires, a tight budget could lead to a restructuring of Argentina's presence in the Antarctic, including the possibility of shutting down some of the country's six permanent stations. Officials from the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces and the Argentine Antarctic Department are reviewing the situation and in the worst scenario only two bases would be saved from the axe, "Jubany and Marambio", and even logistic operations undertaken by the icebreaker "Almirante Irízar" could be targeted. Apparently Argentina invests over three million US dollars in the upkeep of its six permanent Antarctic bases manned with 150 people including some families. "Although supply operations and the transport of scientists for this season is scheduled to begin next January, maintenance of the icebreaker after the winter rescue attempt of the ice blocked German vessel "Magdalena Oldendorff" is lagging", undisclosed sources commented to the Argentine press. Argentina currently has six permanent stations, Marambio run by the Air Force; Esperanza the largest plus San Martín and Belgrano under Army responsibility; the Navy has Orcadas and the Antarctic Office, Jubany. Press reports however also indicate that no final decision has been taken since for years Argentina has been involved in a diplomatic operation to have Buenos Aires as the seat for the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat.

Antarctic climbing expedition

Four Chilean climbers will be attempting to reach some of Antarctica's highest peaks during a 400 kilometres sixty days crossing scheduled to begin in a week's time. According to Punta Arenas "Prensa Austral", the team supplied with some of the best equipment available in the world has been practicing in the Chilean ski resort of Portillo in the Andes. From Punta Arenas the "Antarctic Expedition" will be flown on November 1st by Adventure Network International to Patriot Hills and from there by Twin Otter to the Newcomer glacier, north of the Sentinel Mountain range. Final destination is the Vinson Massif and some of the peaks to climb, Mount Schmid (2,340 metres) and Mount Anderson (4,157 metres). Further on along the Ellen glacier, peaks to be conquered are Mount Giovinetto (4,089 metres); Mount Jumper (2,898 metres) and Mount Segers (2,460 metres). In Crosswell glacier the group will establish an operational base to attempt climbing the north side of Mount Vinson (4,897 metres). The crossing further south includes Mount Mohl, Mount Allen and Hudman glacier. The team is sponsored by several Chilean first line companies.