Latin America

• Wednesday, February 19th 2014 - 22:24 UTC

  Hague and Figuereido optimistic about outcome of the delayed Mercosur/EU trade pact

  

  Brazilian and UK foreign ministers Luiz Alberto Figuereido and William Hague said that Mercosur and the European Union are concluding the tariffs' reduction proposals which they plan to exchange as part of the process leading to a wide ranging cooperation and trade agreement between the two blocks.

• Wednesday, February 19th 2014 - 04:58 UTC

  Santos sacks Colombian top brass following exposure of corruption ring

  

  President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Tuesday a major overhaul of Colombia's armed forces high command following revelations of corruption in military procurement.

• Tuesday, February 18th 2014 - 21:33 UTC

  Mujica exposed 'to contempt of justice' for refusing to pay Judiciary branch budget increase

  

  The Uruguayan Judiciary branch warned President Jose Mujica that he is in contempt of justice for ignoring a budget bill that contemplates salary increases for judges and other members of independent government bodies.

• Tuesday, February 18th 2014 - 20:25 UTC

  In the midst of a huge turnout, Venezuelan opposition leader hands himself to security forces

  

  Hard-line opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez has handed himself over to Venezuelan security forces answering an arrest warrant placed on the figure following last week's fatal protests against the regime of President Nicolas Maduro. The government formally accused Lopez of instigating the protests and conspiring for a right-wing coup.

• Tuesday, February 18th 2014 - 08:41 UTC

  Brazilian industry wants to change Mercosur rules and demands an urgent trade accord with the EU

  

  Brazil's National Confederation of Industries, CNI, supports a review of Mercosur rules such as the current impediment for member countries to negotiate trade agreements with third countries, and fervently backs an urgent full trade and cooperation agreement with the European Union.

• Tuesday, February 18th 2014 - 05:25 UTC

  Chile's incoming coalition with divided support over events in Venezuela

  

  The Chilean coalition of Chilean president elect Michelle Bachelet is divided on how to address events in Venezuela, according to the latest statements. While the Christian Democrats support the 'democratic forces' in Venezuela in reference to the marches against President Nicolas Maduro, the Communist party accused 'destabilization attempts' as the reason for the widespread violence.

• Tuesday, February 18th 2014 - 05:19 UTC

  Unasur calls for preservation of institutions and democratic principles in Venezuela

  

  The Union of Southern Nations (UNASUR) expressed on Monday its “energetic condemnation” of the violent episodes recorded over the last week in Venezuela during conflicting opposition and pro-government marches, and called for “the preservation of institutions and democratic principles” in the divided nation.

• Tuesday, February 18th 2014 - 05:13 UTC

  OAS expresses concern about Tuesday's protests in Venezuela, calls for dialogue

  

  The Organization of American States (OAS), expressed concern on Monday over the possibility that new protests in the streets of the capital of Venezuela “could lead to more acts of violence that would only further separate the positions of the government and the opposition and polarize to an even greater degree the sensitive political moment the South American country is going through.”

• Monday, February 17th 2014 - 10:00 UTC

  Uruguay will appeal to a cut in state-run utilities rates, if necessary, to keep inflation under control

  

  Uruguayan President Jose Mujica admitted that annual inflation would likely remain between 7 and 9% for the rest of his administration, above the government's target maximum, but he will appeal to a cut in state-run utilities rates if necessary to keep the index under control.

• Monday, February 17th 2014 - 09:54 UTC

  Mercosur condemns violence in Venezuela and calls for dialogue

  

  Mercosur country members, in an official release rejected all acts of violence and condemned the destabilization attempts against the government of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.