Latin America

• Saturday, March 17th 2012 - 06:01 UTC

  EU ministers agree to free trade pact with Colombia and Peru

  

  EU trade ministers agreed on Friday to approve a free trade pact with Colombia and Peru that could boost European car and chemical exports and lift food and mineral exports from the South American countries.

• Saturday, March 17th 2012 - 05:56 UTC

  Rousseff and Blatter seal peace and say all will be on time for the 2014 World Cup

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff assured FIFA chief Sepp Blatter on Friday the country would be ready to host the 2014 World Cup, easing tensions over the slow pace of preparations for the finals.

• Friday, March 16th 2012 - 19:05 UTC

  Falklands tells Argentina latest intimidation and bullying efforts are entirely counter-productive

  

  The elected government of the Falkland Islands said on Friday it regrets the latest attempt by the Argentine government to economically undermine the Islanders way of life, which is yet another example of intimidation and bullying towards a country of 3.000 people.

• Friday, March 16th 2012 - 08:30 UTC

  Joint declaration not expected to mention Lan flight to the Falklands, say Chilean sources

  

  A joint declaration on the Falklands Islands dispute reaffirming Chilean support to Argentina’s claim over the Malvinas is expected to be released Friday at the end of President Cristina Fernandez visit but allegedly with no specific mention to the Lan Chile air link, according to diplomatic sources.

• Friday, March 16th 2012 - 08:26 UTC

  Piñera reiterates full support to Argentine claims over the Falklands

  

  Chilean president Sebastian Piñera expressed full support for Argentina’s claim over the Falklands and called for greater integration with the neighbouring country in his welcome speech during a gala dinner to honour visiting Argentine president Cristina Fernandez.

• Friday, March 16th 2012 - 08:10 UTC

  Malvinas means protecting the continent’s natural resources, says Argentine leader

  

  President Cristina Fernandez underlined the brotherhood between Argentina and Chile which she described as ‘unalterable’, particularly since both countries are now living under full democracies. She also thanked Chilean support for Argentine claim over the Malvinas and said that the sovereignty dispute has as a crucial element the need to protect the continent’s natural resources.

• Thursday, March 15th 2012 - 06:12 UTC

  Uruguay upsets Argentina in rugby which lost its first ever South American Cup

  

  While Brazil's women maintained their perfect record in regional competition, Uruguay's men scored a huge upset by winning their first CONSUR rugby title, beating Argentina in the final 17-14 with a try on the siren.

• Thursday, March 15th 2012 - 03:24 UTC

  Chile/UK respect ‘legitimate differences’ but say NO to a blockade of the Faklands

  

  Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne and Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister Alfredo Moreno agreed to respect their legitimate differences regarding the Argentine/UK dispute over the Falklands’ sovereignty but also emphasized the Chilean (and other Mercosur members) position contrary to an economic blockade of the Islands or isolating its population.

• Thursday, March 15th 2012 - 02:52 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez censors television program; former CNN reporter privileged witness

  

  A former CNN in Spanish journalist Alberto Padilla was a privileged witness of censorship in Argentina, minutes before he was to be interviewed by a television channel in Buenos Aires: “the order to stop the program came directly from (Federal planning) minister De Vido”.

• Wednesday, March 14th 2012 - 05:36 UTC

  Last Americas Summit without Cuba, agree Argentina and Brazil

  

  Argentina and Brazil Foreign Affairs ministers said in Sao Paulo both countries are committed that the next Summit of the Americas to be held in April in Colombia is the last without the participation of Cuba.