MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina: Breaking News

Headlines:
Trans-Andean tunnel closed again ; Tourism fourth-largest currency earner; TGN: 800 million dollars a year needed; Death at Carlos Menem's birthday party; Chile terrorist extradition to be decided today; Olivera vs Bielsa.

Trans-Andean tunnel closed again

The Christ the Redeemer tunnel linking the Argentine province of Mendoza with Chile was closed yesterday due to bad weather. It had been reopened on Friday after having been closed since Monday. About 700 trucks were yesterday stuck on the Argentine side.

Tourism fourth-largest currency earner

The tourist sector last year earned Argentina 2.5 billion dollars, 28 percent over the preceding year, becoming the fourth-largest currency earner in the country. The number of visitors last year grew to 3.4 million from three million in 2003. A stable parity of about three pesos to the dollar, an inflation rate fairly under control and enhanced security contributed to higher tourism inflows. Tourists spent an average of 70 dollars a day, an increase of 12 percent over the previous year. Brazilians led the number of visitors (237,000) followed by US nationals (201,000), Chileans 188,000) and Spaniards (127,000).

TGN: 800 million dollars a year needed

Roberto Phillips, head of the Transportadora de Gas del Norte gas transport company, yesterday said that Argentina's economic growth required a minimum annual investment of 800 million dollars to account for an annual increase in electricity demand of five percent and three percent of gas. "A very conservative estimate of the necessary investment to face a five percent (electricity demand) increase such as Argentina has requires an additional thermal plant per year to generate 700 megawatts, and the extension of gas transport facilities to add six million cubic metres a day to the system," Phillips told state-run news agency Télam.

Death at Carlos Menem's birthday party

Former president Carlos Menem yesterday rested at his house in the town of Anillaco, La Rioja province, after he was medicated as a consequence of the shock he suffered when politician Hugo Boeiro died shortly before Menem's 75th birthday celebrations began on Friday. Boeiro had travelled from his home-province Entre Ríos to Anillaco for the party, which was called off after he suffered a heart attack.

Chile terrorist extradition to be decided today

Federal Judge Claudio Bonadío will announce today his verdict in the extradition trial of alleged terrorist Sergio Apablaza Guerra to his home country Chile. Apablaza Guerra is accused of the murder of Senator Jaime Guzmán in 1991 and the kidnapping of Christian Edwards del Río, the son of a media businessman.

Olivera vs Bielsa

Enrique Olivera, who tops the ARI City Legislature slate for the October 23 midterm elections, said yesterday that Argentina needs "a strong opposition" and rejected any questioning of his past as a government official under ex-president Fernando de la Rúa. Olivera said that as head of the state-owned Banco Nación under De la Rúa he had only mainly "technical" job of much less importance than that of current Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa, who was the head of the SIGEN comptroller's office in the ill-fated De la Rúa administration. Bielsa is the government's leading candidate for the Lower House of Congress in the city.(Agencies)