Latin America

• Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 06:47 UTC

  Pacific alliance pledges to liberalize intra-trade for 90% of products by March 31

  

  The Alliance of the Pacific, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico have agreed to liberalize 90% of products traded between the group before the end of March 31, a decision which runs counter to the growing protectionism implemented by some of the region’s largest economies on the Atlantic.

• Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 06:39 UTC

  Brazil committed to CELAC and to all regional and subregional integration groups

  

  Brazil said Latinamerica and Caribbean cohesion does not only mean strengthening CELAC (Community of Latinamerican and Caribbean States) but also advancing in the other integration processes of the region.

• Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 06:20 UTC

  OAS helps to combat illicit trafficking of firearms in the region

  

  As part of the Organization of American States (OAS) policy to help member countries combat illicit trafficking of firearms the organization this week donated a firearm marking machine to the government of Peru.

• Tuesday, January 29th 2013 - 06:05 UTC

  Raul Castro assumes CELAC chair calling for integration and independence from the US

  

  Cuba formally assumed Monday the presidency of the Community of Latinamerican and Caribbean States during the group’s summit in Chile calling for regional integration and independence from the United States.

• Tuesday, January 29th 2013 - 06:02 UTC

  UK wants to control South Atlantic access and resources, claims Argentina

  

  Argentina claimed at the CELAC summit in Chile that the UK has converted the Falkland Islands into one of the “most militarized territories in the world” with the sole purpose of exploiting the natural resources of the Islands and control access to Antarctica.

• Tuesday, January 29th 2013 - 05:58 UTC

  Letter from Chavez calls for regional unit, supports Cuba and condemns UK on the Falklands

  

  Vice-president Nicolas Maduro, read an eleven page letter he said was written by ailing President Hugo Chavez in which the Venezuelan leader calls for Latinamerican unit, praises Cuba’s chairmanship of CELAC group and takes time to support Argentina’s claims over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands.

• Tuesday, January 29th 2013 - 03:34 UTC

  CELAC is “no threat for OAS, rather a useful component” says Insulza

  

  The Community of Latinamerican and Caribbean States, CELAC, is “no threat” but rather a useful component for the Organization of American States, OAS, said Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza during his attendance to the Celac summit meetings.

• Monday, January 28th 2013 - 06:45 UTC

  Merkel invites Latam to invest in EU: “we’re open” but pls dump protectionism

  

  Leaders from the European Union and the Community of Latinamerican and Caribbean States concluded on Sunday a two-day summit with pledges of boosting bilateral trade and while few concrete details were released, the two economic blocs expressed a clear wish for stronger ties.

• Monday, January 28th 2013 - 06:08 UTC

  Cuba takes CELAC chair on Monday; expectations regarding Havana’s proposals

  

  The first summit of the Community of Latinamerican and Caribbean States, CELAC, the brain child of president Hugo Chavez, paid tribute to the Venezuelan leader who is recovering from cancer surgery in Havana, Cuba, the country that on Monday will be receiving the group’s chair from Chile.

• Monday, January 28th 2013 - 04:10 UTC

  Santa Maria tragedy: Three days of national mourning; Rousseff cuts short political summit in Chile

  

  Brazil declared on Sunday three days of national mourning and flags at half mast following the tragedy in the southern university city of Santa Maria where at least 233 people were killed or trampled to death when a disco went on fire.