MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Montevideo, Bs. Aires calm river waters

Argentina and Uruguay sought yesterday to calm a row that escalated at the weekend over Uruguay's decision to build two paper pulp factories on its side of the river dividing the two countries.

Tensions mounted after Entre Rios Governor Jorge Busti said on Saturday Uruguayan government officials may be getting "some sort of incentives" to defend the construction of the plants, which Argentina fears will pollute the Uruguay River.

Uruguay said on Sunday the governor's remarks were "insulting" and recalled its ambassador in Buenos Aires for consultations. Argentina did the same with its top envoy to Montevideo.

But in a newly conciliatory tone, President Néstor Kirchner's government issued a statement yesterday saying it believed the only incentive the government of Uruguay had to defend the mills was "the true defence of what it thinks is best for the interests of its people."

Argentina also stressed its "strategic commitment to the process of regional integration and in particular to strengthening its historic fraternal relationship with Uruguay."

Uruguayan Foreign Minister Reinaldo Gargano yesterday declared the weekend spat over.

Opponents of the factories in Entre Rios province say they will pollute the river and especially harm the town of Gualeguaychú, which largely depends on its riverside beaches to attract tourists

Busti has filed a complaint before the Washington-based Inter-American Human Rights Commission. The World Bank, which is financing part of the project, has also sent down a delegation to check the environmental impact of the plants.

But the Argentine government statement also urged Uruguay to make information available on the technical aspects of the plants and to halt construction until the dispute has been settled. It also says Argentina will "staunchly defend its right to environmental quality."

Montevideo also attempted to cool down the weekend spat with Argentina, saying bilateral ties had not been damaged and that it hoped both sides would solve the dispute soon.

"There is no such deterioration in the bilateral relations. Uruguayans will continue to go to Argentina and Argentines will continue to come here," said Uruguayan Foreign Minister Reinaldo Gargano.

Before the paper plants row erupted, Argentina and Uruguay had a good political relationship. Kirchner and his Uruguayan counterpart Tabaré Vázquez see eye to eye on most issues, especially human rights.

The statement by Argentina's Foreign Ministry also congratulated Uruguay's government on the first anniversary of Vázquez's Broad Front's resounding electoral victory over the traditional National (Blanco) and Colorado parties. (BAH)