Mercosur

• Monday, October 8th 2012 - 20:17 UTC

  Unasur praise for the reliability and transparency of Venezuelan electoral system

  

  The head of the Unasur delegation sent to Venezuela to follow Sunday’s electoral process, Carlos Alvarez said that the country had given the world a lesson of democracy because of its extraordinary electoral system and the attitude of the opposition, among other positive elements.

• Monday, October 8th 2012 - 06:34 UTC

  Paraguay expects to be back in Mercosur “sooner than later”: before April 2013

  

  President Federio Franco said he trusted Paraguay would be fully re-incorporated to Mercosur before the general election scheduled for 21 April 2013. Paraguay is currently suspended from the trade block following the removal of Fernando Lugo as president, a decision voted almost unanimously by the country’s Senate but condemned by Mercosur and Unasur.

• Saturday, October 6th 2012 - 15:16 UTC

  IMF cuts global growth estimates; calls for clear political leadership to restore confidence

  

  The IMF has cut its global growth forecasts for this year and 2013 and called on politicians in the Euro-zone and the US to take “decisive” steps to restore confidence, a German newspaper said Friday.

• Saturday, October 6th 2012 - 15:09 UTC

  Borders and Coast Guards in conflict won’t yield; government looks for scapegoats

  

  Argentina’s Security Ministry decided the intervention of the Border Guards’ Department of Judicial Affairs due to “severe deficiencies” found in the application of the officers' “wage demands”, which led to the current situation that on Friday night was beginning its fifth consecutive day of conflict.

• Saturday, October 6th 2012 - 15:06 UTC

  Brazil wants Paraguay back in Mercosur following “democracy compliance” test

  

  Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota said on Friday that Paraguay could resume membership of Mercosur and Unasur without the need to wait for presidential elections next April 2013 as long as “full compliance with democracy” can be verified.

• Friday, October 5th 2012 - 19:48 UTC

  Paraguay ‘deplores’ Uruguay’s speech before the UN General Assembly

  

  Paraguay deplored statements from Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro who claimed before the United Nations General Assembly in New York that the landlocked country had interrupted ‘democratic order’ when it removed Fernando Lugo from the Executive.

• Tuesday, October 2nd 2012 - 23:17 UTC

  Argentina becomes main supplier of soy and soy-oil to Iran in third quarter

  

  Iran made major imports of Argentine soy-oil and soybeans between July and September as Iranian buyers found methods of making payments in the face of western sanctions, Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World said on Tuesday.

• Friday, September 28th 2012 - 16:43 UTC

  Message to Mercosur: “Paraguay will never accept intervention by foreign powers in its internal affairs”

  

  On what he described as the “first and last time” he will address the United Nations General Assembly, the President of Paraguay, Federico Franco, affirmed that his country will not abide by any infringement on its sovereignty.

• Friday, September 28th 2012 - 00:44 UTC

  Soybean area keeps expanding in Uruguay; rice planters turning to the oilseed

  

  Uruguayan farmers are planning to sow 1.105.000 hectares of crops this coming 2012/13 summer season, which is similar to last year’s of which 890.000 hectares or 80% will be dedicated to soybeans.

• Thursday, September 27th 2012 - 18:11 UTC

  Venezuela armed forces say they will respect “the decision of the people”

  

  Venezuela’s Bolivarian Armed Forces, FANB, said they are committed to respect “the decision of the people” in the coming presidential election of 7 October but at the same time demanded respect for the institution.