Mercosur

• Monday, May 20th 2013 - 19:47 UTC

  Brazil trapped by Argentina and Venezuela economic mismanagements

  

  Brazil’s main financial newspaper Valor Economico revealed that the recent summit between Presidents Cristina Fernandez and Dilma Rousseff from Argentina and Brazil was far from polite and enlightening, rather the contrary with “strong disagreements in the fields of trade and investment” shaking the foundations of Mercosur.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 06:57 UTC

  Maduro admits to knowing “the IDs and all” of the 900.000 Chavistas who did not vote for him

  

  Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro admitted to knowing ‘with IDs and all’ who are the 900.000 Chavistas who crossed lines and did not vote for him in the 14 April election which anointed him as the successor of deceased Hugo Chavez.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 06:26 UTC

  Uruguay’s José Mujica lauds booming Brazil ties

  

  By Jude Webber in Montevideo - The Financial Times has published a piece on Uruguayan president Jose Mujica and his view on the future and his government’s policy towards two powerful neighbors, Argentina and Brazil.

• Wednesday, May 15th 2013 - 21:59 UTC

  Paraguay on Independence Day blasts Argentina and Brazil over “power resource exploitation”

  

  President Federico Franco said Paraguay has long cancelled its debts for the construction of two huge shared hydroelectric dams with its powerful neighbours and demanded Argentina pay for the surplus energy it receives and compensation for flooding Paraguayan territory.

• Tuesday, May 14th 2013 - 06:58 UTC

  Under Brazilian suggestion, Maduro says he is prepared for political dialogue with Capriles

  

  Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro said he is prepared for political dialogue with the leader of the opposition Henrique Capriles to ensure peace in the country, even if it means “talking to the devil”. He also warned that United States must “give a huge leap forward” if relations as equals are to be advanced between Caracas and Washington.

• Monday, May 13th 2013 - 04:21 UTC

  Maduro trying to deal with his main challenges: food scarcity and inflation

  

  President Nicolas Maduro accused Lorenzo Mendoza, owner of Empresas Polar SA, Venezuela’s largest privately held company, of reducing food production and creating shortages amid record scarcity and the region’s fastest inflation close to 30%.

• Friday, May 10th 2013 - 07:40 UTC

  Paraguay requests Pacific Alliance observer status; moves ‘beyond Mercosur’

  

  Paraguay has made official its request to become an observer of the Pacific Alliance, (Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru), as part of its policy to strengthen relations with other countries that goes beyond Mercosur and has proven very successful for the exchange of experiences.

• Friday, May 10th 2013 - 07:35 UTC

  Paraguay discussing inviting Maduro to the inauguration of president-elect Cartes

  

  Paraguayan president elect Horacio Cartes transition team said that Venezuela should be present at the inauguration ceremony of the new head of state scheduled for 15 August, despite the ‘current circumstances’ of bilateral relations.

• Thursday, May 9th 2013 - 05:25 UTC

  Maduro says he is a ‘Kirchnerite president’ and Venezuela’s ‘second Peronist president’

  

  President Nicolas Maduro said he was a ‘Kirchnerite president’ and the ‘second Peronist president’ of Venezuela during a political rally with Argentine trade unions and militant groups in a packed Buenos Aires stadium to recall the figures of the deceased Hugo Chavez and Nestor Kirchner.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:56 UTC

  Maduro promises Uruguay permanent supply of oil and full Mercosur commitment

  

  President Nicolas Maduro promised his Uruguayan counterpart Jose Mujica a “permanent” supply of petroleum from oil-rich Venezuela during the first leg of his visit to Mercosur member countries. Maduro also announced the signing of a strategic alliance in the energy sector with Uruguay.