MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Pickets lifted for the crucial World Cup qualifier Uruguay/Argentina

Not even politics can get in the way of a good soccer match

FIFA has more country members that the United Nations and is proving more effective than even the International Court of The Hague: Argentine pickets blocking for almost two years an international bridge will lift the ban so Argentine fans can cross to Uruguay for the South Africa Soccer World Cup qualifier.

For almost two years now, residents and environmentalist from the city of Gualeguaychú have been protesting the construction of a pulp mill on the Uruguayan side of the shared river, and have found no better argument than to close the international bridge linking the two countries.

But an open assembly from Gualeguaychú decided on the exception, for a few hours next Wednesday and the following day, so that Argentine fans can cross in support of their national team which will be playing Uruguay a crucial qualifier for both, with the winner most probably automatically going to South Africa.

The conflict over the construction of the Botnia pulp mill has been triggered supposedly because Uruguay did not comply with all the formalities of informing Argentina of its decision to authorize the plant belonging to Finland’s Botnia and Uruguay’s major single investment in decades, over 1.5 billion US dollars.

A treaty governing the common use of the river Uruguay which acts as a natural border, and dating back to 1975, is at the heart of the dispute that was taken by Argentina in May 2006 to the International Court of The Hague, which is expected to make a definitive ruling sometime early next year.

Uruguay has proved at the Court it did inform Argentina both informally and formally, with evidence to back up its statements. Furthermore the plant applies the latest and strictest EU environmental criteria, so any pollution, if existent is under control.

The diplomatic dispute however did not prevent local Gualeguaychú residents from establishing pickets since November 2006 that have sealed the international bridge, impeding all crossings and damaging trade and tourism. They argue in spite of all international reports that the Botnia plant contaminates.

The Argentine government which at first fostered the pickets has lost control over them and has been unable to convince them to lift the ban. More over some pickets have been protesting even in downtown Buenos Aires calling for stronger actions from the Kirchner administrations.

A recent public opinion poll in Argentina showed a majority of Argentines support the government in having taken the case to The Hague, but six out of ten also object to the blocking of bridges as a valid protest instrument.

Brazil, Paraguay and Chile have already classified for the 2010 South Africa World Cup and Argentina and Uruguay are disputing the fourth place in representation of South America. The looser of Wednesday’s match has the chance of a fifth ticket but must play further qualifiers with other regions.

Statistics show that Argentina has never defeated Uruguay in the famous Centenario stadium inaugurated for the first World Cup in 1930. At that final match the locals defeated Argentina 2 to 1 and won the first World Cup.

Argentina’s qualifying campaign under Diego Maradona, the great former world star turned coach, has been rather poor and the country only managed to this Wednesday’s opportunity after beating Peru on Saturday with a last minute goal.