
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he has agreed with his Nicaraguan counterpart, Daniel Ortega, to establish lines of communication to resolve through diplomatic channels the maritime dispute between the two countries.

The Paraguayan congress was strongly supported at the Latinamerican Parliament, Parlatino, which during the XXVIII ordinary session voted against an Argentine motion to have it suspended.

The Union for South American Nations (Unasur) agreed to limit the actions of ‘special situation funds’ (hedge funds or ‘vulture funds’) and categorically rejected a referendum that will take in place in the Falkland Islands in March to decide the political status of the archipelago, during the summit that took place in Lima.

Paraguay complained bitterly Unasur (Union of South American Nations) decision to confirm the suspension of the country from the group until next April 2013 when elections are scheduled. The decision was described as a ‘systematic persecution’ and ‘interventionism’ of Paraguay, which is contrary to basic principles enshrined in the UN charter.

Latinamerican countries most of which recognize Palestine as a free and sovereign state, helped this week with their votes to elevate the status of the Palestine Authority to “non member observer” which was approved this week by an overwhelming majority of the UN General Assembly.

The Union of South American Nations, Unasur leaders meet on Friday in Peru to consider advances to the integration process and a report on the political and electoral situation in Paraguay, which remains suspended from the group since last June.

Colombia's FARC rebels said their peace talks with the government were going well, but the lead negotiator for President Juan Manuel Santos was more reserved as the two sides finished the first round of meetings aimed at ending their protracted conflict.

The Organization of American States, OAS, is sending a top electoral observation official to Paraguay to sponsor national political dialogue and make preparations for the OAS mission that will be following the electoral process leading to elections.

Colombia has withdrawn from a treaty that binds it to the UN International Court of Justice in anger at a ruling that shifts some of its resource-rich waters to Nicaragua, President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Wednesday.

Chile and Mexico will manage to a great extent to avoid the negative prospects from OECD members in the next two years. The half year report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development anticipates a serious weakening of activity in the Euro zone, the US and Japan, but the two OECD Latinamerican members as well as emerging power Brazil will have a contrasting performance.