MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Timerman flies to Montevideo and will announce scientists for joint-river monitoring

Foreign Affairs minister Timerman and Uruguayan counterpart Luis Almagro

Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Héctor Timerman informed via Twitter that he will fly to Montevideo next Monday to meet his Uruguayan counterpart, Luis Almagro in the framework of the recent agreement regarding the dispute over the UPM/Botnia pulp-mill.

Likewise, the minister said that prior to flying he will officially announce the members of the Argentine scientific committee that will monitor the Uruguay River as well as the UPM paper mill after the agreement signed by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Uruguay's José Mujica on July 28.

On his Twitter account, the minister wrote: “I'll be heading to Montevideo on Monday, before departure I'll announce the members of the scientific committee that will monitor Botnia.”

Uruguayan media echoed the news and confirmed that Uruguayan Foreign Minister, Luis Almagro, will meet with his Argentine counterpart on what will represent the first diplomatic encounter after the neighbouring nations agreed to conduct a joint monitoring campaign of the Uruguay River's waters.

The two ministers will meet after Gualeguaychú Assembly representatives agreed in a voting process Wednesday night to continue their protests against the former Botnia paper mill, but clarified they would “avoid any further roadblocks and focus on other kinds of demonstrations, such as rally caravans”.

Meanwhile the Argentine Foreign Office said that the US government gave approval to Alfredo Chiaradía, who was designated as the new Argentine Ambassador in Washington.

Ambassador Chiaradía was formerly Argentina’s Ministry's International Commerce Secretary, and he is now filling the slot left open by Héctor Timerman.

Chiaradía studied politics and economics at the University of Buenos Aires, and was an economy professor at the UADE Argentine business school between 1970 and 1973. In 1971, he began working for the Argentine Foreign Service Institute and also began his career in diplomatic affairs at the embassy.
Chiaradía was also ambassador in Japan and has worked extensively in the area of international commerce, particularly regarding relations with Mercosur and the group’s main members, Brazil.