Mercosur

• Monday, February 18th 2013 - 17:26 UTC

  Gibraltar and the Falklands referendum: “we are with you every step of the way”

  

  Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has expressed Gibraltar’s “unqualified” support for the people of the Falklands in their forthcoming referendum. Picardo’s remarks were delivered by Samantha Sacramento last week at the Commonwealth parliamentary Association regional conference in the capital of Stanley in Falklands.

• Monday, February 18th 2013 - 16:29 UTC

  Morales nationalizes control of Bolivia three main airports

  

  Populist Bolivian President Evo Morales on Monday nationalized control of the country’s three main airports from Spain’s operator Abertis-Aena, arguing that the company had not fulfilled investments commitments promised for years.

• Monday, February 18th 2013 - 15:44 UTC

  Chavez in Caracas military hospital; presidential oath ceremony expected

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is resting in Caracas military hospital after his Monday early dawn return from Cuba where he spent ten weeks recuperating from cancer surgery. However contrary to other occasions no video or pictures were shown and officials confirmed he has a tracheal tube which limits speech.

• Monday, February 18th 2013 - 00:24 UTC

  Cruise industry warns South America: itinerary costs are three times higher than in the Mediterranean

  

  Representatives from the cruise industry have cautioned Uruguay that port operational costs in South America could have a negative impact on what has been a steady increase of business in the last few seasons and this impact could be felt as soon as next year despite the fact that the 2012/2013 season on the Atlantic is proving to be quite successful despite an uncertain start. “Itineraries’ costs in South America are three times those of the Mediterranean”.

• Saturday, February 16th 2013 - 20:50 UTC

  Brazilian business community demands the country signs trade accords with third countries

  

  Brazilian businesspeople and diplomats expressed their disappointment with Mercosur and said it was crucial for Brazil to sign free trade agreements on its own with third countries, which under current rules of the South American trade block are not allowed.

• Thursday, February 14th 2013 - 01:49 UTC

  Argentina’s January inflation, 2.58%, highest in 22 months according to private estimates

  

  Argentina’s inflation last January was the highest in twenty two months, 2.58%, according to the average of private estimates which are banned from making public their findings, but which are released by the Congressional Freedom of Expression Committee.

• Thursday, February 14th 2013 - 01:02 UTC

  Malvinas cause in another dead alley

  

  By Vicente Palermo (*)
  
  The international resolutions which Argentina appeals to support its claim over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands are not definitive on the sovereignty issue, and do not ignore the rights of the Falkland Islanders, argues an Argentine scientific researcher and member of the Argentine Political Club who published an opinion article in Buenos Aires daily Clarin.

• Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 20:45 UTC

  We are a People and We do exist

  

  Opinion by Robin Goodwin -
  As a Falkland Islander, I do wonder where Alicia Castro the Argentine Ambassador to the United Kingdom was educated. To not recognize that Falkland Islanders exist is plain ignorance on the part of the Argentine Government. Particularly that she is based in England.

• Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 19:05 UTC

  Peruvian lawmaker supports Falkland Islanders’ referendum

  

  Peruvian lawmaker Lourdes Alcorta openly dissented with President Ollanta Humala latest statements on ‘unconditional support for Argentina and the Malvinas issue”, and called to respect the Falkland Islands referendum next month.

• Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 19:01 UTC

  Argentina labels Uruguayan lawmaker as ‘traitor’ for observing Falklands’ referendum

  

  Argentina’s president of the Lower House and Malvinas veteran Julián Domínguez described as “treason to Latinamerica” the fact that Uruguayan lawmakers will be travelling to the Falklands to observe the coming referendum on the Islands political status and future.