Two of Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica closest ministers, Defence and Foreign Affairs said that the ‘British occupation’ of the Falkland Islands is ‘unacceptable’, represents a NATO base in the South Atlantic and described the recent referendum in the Islands as ‘absurd and ridiculous’.
Pope Francis confirmed that he will go to Rio de Janeiro at the end of the July to take part in the Church's World Day of Youth, a gathering of Catholic young people that takes place in a different city every two years. Taking advantage of his presence in Brazil several neighbouring countries, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile have already extended invitations to the Pope.
A delegation from the Falkland Islands recently visited Jamaica as part of a tour of North America, Central American and Caribbean countries to inform about the referendum earlier this month which resulted in a resounding 'yes' with only three 'no' votes, leaving no doubt as to their wish to remain a British Overseas Territory.
The Vatican’s policy of non intervention in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands dispute between Argentina and Britain was confirmed by official sources in the Vatican, the UK ambassador to the Holy See Nigel Baker revealed to The Telegraph Sunday edition.
Argentina this coming week will be meeting in New York with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, with the support of top regional officials to renew its long-standing demand that the UK sits to discuss with Argentina the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty dispute.
Uruguay’s central bank surprised the market by keeping on hold the benchmark interest rate at 9.25% after increases at the two previous monetary policy meetings failed to slow inflation, one of the country’s main concerns.
Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman rejected allegations about an alleged “discrediting operation” by Argentina’s ambassador to the Vatican Juan Pablo Cafiero to stop the election of former Buenos Aires city archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pope and denied that the government has changed its opinion about now Francis.
Argentina’s federal tax revenue office, AFIP said that trips to the Malvinas Islands, as well as expenses are included in the new 20% levy imposed on credit and debit card purchases in foreign countries, despite the fact the Falklands are considered Argentine territory, because of geopolitical reasons.
The Economist in its latest edition publishes a piece on Uruguay in which it reveals accurately the dilemma facing the country as a consequence of the legacy of the military dictatorship, 1973/1984 with all the killings, disappeared and tortured.
Amid tensions surrounding the Argentina/Iran Memorandum of Understanding over the AMIA case, Argentina has voted against the Tehran regime at the United Nations Human Rights Council that will keep investigating reports of human rights violations in the Islamic Republic. Venezuela on the other hand supported the Iran position.