MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentina and Uruguay agree that integration and Mercosur are the priorities
“We covered all the issues we have in common in our bilateral and regional agendas and approved a work method that included meetings twice a year”, said Malcorra 
“President Macri's instructions are that all issues relative to integration with Uruguay must be on the table, addressed and solved” Argentina and Uruguay foreign ministers agreed to hold twice a year meetings to address all issues in the bilateral agenda but with emphasis on integration and Mercosur which are 'our main concerns'. Susana Malcorra met with her peer Rodolfo Nin Novoa in Montevideo on Friday and after a several hours meeting made brief statements with no questions taken from journalists.
“We covered all the issues we have in common in our bilateral and regional agendas and approved a work method that included meetings twice a year”, said Malcorra following the meeting at the Santos Palace in Montevideo.
The minister recalled that “the first official visit of president Mauricio Macri outside Argentina was to Uruguay, when he met with president Tabare Vazquez in Colonia, and this is my first trip for a bilateral meeting here in Montevideo. This defines the priority we assign to relations between brotherly countries”.
“President Macri's instructions are that all issues relative to integration with Uruguay must be on the table and be solved; we talked with my colleague about Mercosur, dredging of shared canals, ports and harbors, and advancing in a complete environmental monitoring and control of the River Uruguay”, indicated Malcorra.
She added that for Argentina the Parana-Uruguay waterway, which flows into the River Plate from the continent's heartland is not only important as a canal link, but “so is the health and environmental conservation of the system”.
Nin Novoa on his side underlined how significant it was that Argentina and Uruguay resume the path of River Plate friendship and commitment, which has been marked by history.
The Uruguayan official confirmed that Mercosur and integration are priorities together with trade and ports accords, and revealed they also exchanged ideas about the future of bilateral relations and the overall situation in the region.
“We've always had a special deep synchronization with Ms Malcorra”, pointed out Nin Novoa, adding that it was agreed to have “exams of bilateral relations twice a year”.
“Our region is a leading producer of food for the world and we must have a space where to share opportunities, sponsor trade and create wealth so our people can have the life they deserve”.
Finally the Argentine official admitted that they did not have sufficient time to address all the issues, even when “protocols were light, because they can be a bit strange when your are discussing and working among friends”.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
-
-
Read all comments”This defines the priority we assign to relations between brotherly countries”.
Feb 20th, 2016 - 10:49 am 0Still the same old tripe.
Time and ACTIONS will tell.
Agreed Chris.
Feb 21st, 2016 - 02:26 am 0This whole nauseating brotherly crap South American politicians keep preaching is a swindle. Integration in South America is so far behind the rest of the world but supposedly they have an even more special connection that others don't?
Go figure.
You'd be hard pressed to find two more similar countries than Australia had New Zealand but thankfully our politicians use grown up language to describe our relationship. We informally call each other cousins but that's it. We don't expect them to do something because there is a supposed family connection.
As for Uruguay, it is a shame it is squeezed between two very much larger neighbours. I can't understand why it has always followed a path of appeasement more than isolation. It could have become a Singapore or Switzerland or Panama by turning its back on the disorder of its neighbours and struck a divergent path.
I know you've first hand experience on the many problems Uruguay creates for itself but my advice would be to leave Mercosur and strike free trade deals with other countries. Increase inward migration to deepen the skill set. Promote English so the country is effectively bilingual. And then become the service/legal hub for the entire region.
Singapore did it within a generation.
In 1950, Singapore had a population of 1 million people. Uruguay had 2.25 million. In the early 1990s Singapore matched Uruguay's population and now has 2 million more people than Uruguay's 3.5 million.
Singapore has 0.4% of Uruguay's land area!
@ 2 Skip
Feb 21st, 2016 - 11:13 am 0Excellent analysis EXCEPT for: Singapore is Asian, has the Asian work ethic but more importantly has a very well educated population. They are also governed by educated, intelligent, people.
Uruguayans, at what would be expected to be the workforce level, are uneducated, illiterate, innumerate and 1.4M of them are on the tit that 'No Money Pepe' brought in and are therefore living the life of Riley on the backs of those who do work. Those lazy bastards get almost as much money a week as those employed in unskilled jobs by the government AND 'taxes' are stopped from their wages!
Uruguay cannot even understand WHY Singapore is so successful and has no chance of emulating them whilst the politicians of Uruguay are stupid commie bastards. They really do jibber-jabber on about 'brotherly love'.
I love living here, but I am already educated and through my own efforts, well off, so life here is good for us BUT I couldn't survive on the pittance those who do work are paid.
Such missed opportunities for the people. It really does frustrate me when I look at what my friends (mostly teachers) earn.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!