Mujica: sorry HMS Gloucester, but our priority is good relations with Argentina

Tuesday, September 21st 2010 - 23:29 UTC

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Uruguayan president Jose Mujica told his cabinet that he had contacted the British ambassador to tell him why the Royal Navy HMS Gloucester bound for the Falkland Islands had been authorized to call in Montevideo and a few hours before arriving had clearance withdrawn. Read full article

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Hoytred
Reading this I get the impression that Uruguay is feeling 'threatened' by its big neighbour ......... now isn't that unusual :-)
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 12:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Ale
I salute Mr Jose Mujica!
”Finally he said 400.000 Uruguayans live in Argentina, and Buenos Aires is the second largest Uruguayan city in the world.
“These Uruguayans are not foreigners, they feel they belong. It’s the only country (Argentina) in the world where this happens with us. This miracle should make us think”, concluded the Uruguayan president.
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 01:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Sergio Vega
Mr. Mujica, don´t you have guts to decide on your owns????
Here we are acustomed to support our word, not change it erasing with the elbow what was written with the hand.....
R.I.P. Uruguay (The president is lefty also, so not good expectations we can make, of course)...
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 03:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Hoytred
400,000 Uruguayans in Argentina ! Sounds like an invasion to me :-)
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 03:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Sergio Vega
I had been in Uruguay and the Uruguayian people don´t think that the Aregentines are their friesnds at all,but their competitors, specially after the pulp mill incident and the negative from Argentina to drag the
River Plate channel so vessel can reach their pulp mill.....

Mr. Mujica you are selling the honour and good name of the Uruguayan nation...

Soon you will be one more province of Aregntina.....or Provincias Unidas de la Plata....200 years back, Mr. President... Well done, very clever !!!
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 03:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Think
(1)Hoyt
You write:
”Reading this I get the impression that Uruguay is feeling 'threatened' by its big neighbour ......... ”

I say:
Yes……
One does indeed get that impression………..and more……………
One nearly gets the impression that this ” besieged president” in his ”personal apology” to the ambassador is asking for ”help and understanding from the British”
One can nearly picture the Argentinean boot on his throat…………….

I wonder why no other media in Uruguay has published this “terrible secret”?
Not even the most fiercely opposed to this old communist president?
What do you Think?

PS:
The 400.000 Uruguayans are just in Buenos Aires.....
The estimated total in Argentina rounds the 700.000...
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 04:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Beef
I don't know what the fuss is about. As they were requesting permission to port then Uruguay has the right to decide to allow this or not, not the same as denying innocent passage.

Personally I would prefer to spend my money in Rio, don't see Argentina up in arms to Brazil? If Brazil are happy to provide post facilities to the RN and to the ships servicing the FI HC exploration then fine.

Money will be spent elsewhere.
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 05:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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stick up your junta
More sorry than he thinks when Port Stanley port and reefer facilities are up and running, shouldn’t be surprised if Montevideo begins loosing business to the Islands. :-)
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 06:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Typhoon
Mr Mujica could start by reflecting that, but for Britain, his country wouldn't exist. Perhaps Mr Mujica WANTS Uruguay to return to being a province of Argentina. The situation seems to have arisen from Argentina's usual “jackboot-style” diplomacy.

In the meantime, the refusal to allow HMS Gloucester to take on supplies and fuel in Montevideo does provide the benefit that the money that would have been spent in Uruguay wasn't. That applies not only to the fuel and supplies but also, since shore leave would probably have been allowed, to the loss of the money that British sailors would undoubtedly have spent in Montevideo.

No doubt in the future the Royal Navy will choose to take on fuel and supplies, if needed, in Brazil rather than Uruguay. Or perhaps they will choose to sail down the African coast and obtain supplies there. In the meantime, we may see fishing vessels choosing to offload their cargoes elsewhere, until the facilities in Stanley are ready.

Who will suffer? Not the Falkland Islands. Not Britain. Montevideo will suffer. From Argentine legislation refusing to allow Argentine cargoes through Montevideo. From Argentine refusal to allow innocent passage to fishing vessels. From Argentina.

Uruguay should note this. Argentina demands slavish obedience to its wishes or you will suffer!
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 08:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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mastershakejb
lol, these comments are ridiculous,
I see what Mujica's trying to do, and this probly cost Uruguay less in lost revenue with UK than it will gain, short term at least, with Argentina, probly long term as well.
But THIS comment “We must build our strategy and our future where we are, surrounded by whom we know, and the rest is speculation and has little to do with reality that hurts and bites”, said Mujica.” was foolish. Uruguay can be an investment, second home, tourist spot for ppl around the WORLD, not just Argentina. He needs to set his sights higher for Uruguay, than just Argentina.
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 08:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Typhoon
You are right. If Mujica had any sense he would look for friends who don't give a fig for Argentina and will be there to help him as Argentina steals his country. This is just the beginning of the softening-up process.
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 07:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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jorge!
Argentines spend a lot more money in Uruguay than a few pirates, that's the only thing that counts.
Argentina will soon become the second trading pertner of Brazil and that will count. I hope the same thing happens regarding Chile wich trade is growing very fast with Argentina. You'll see!
Sep 22nd, 2010 - 10:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Typhoon
Argentina. 1 current peso = 100,000,000,000 1980 pesos.

Nuff said.
Sep 23rd, 2010 - 10:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Pheel
Sergio, do you work in a cemetery?
Cos everybody receives a “Requiescat In Pacem” pray from you!

Or your commercial dialogues should sound like this:
- “I want to rent a Land Rover for driving to Natales”
- “RIP, costumer, choose something better somewhere”, you answer.

Unless you work to a “Godfather” in PA:
- “Sergio, send ”a message“ to that Argie Pheel, it must seem an accident”
- “RIP”- bang!- “Pheel”
Sep 23rd, 2010 - 10:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Typhoon
Pheel. RIP.
Sep 24th, 2010 - 07:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Pheel
Some serious threats only reinforce beliefs.

Not yours, tiphus, just farts.
Sep 24th, 2010 - 10:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Typhoon
Sorry? Phart.
Sep 25th, 2010 - 12:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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