Mercosur

• Monday, June 25th 2012 - 07:07 UTC

  Wen Jiabao confirms Mercosur interest; Uruguay’s deep sea port blueprints to be sent to Beijing

  

  A memorandum of understanding with Mercosur and a deep sea port to the east of Uruguay were two of the main issues addressed by visiting Chinese PM Wen Jiabao with President Jose Mujica revealed the Executive Deputy Secretary.

• Monday, June 25th 2012 - 06:47 UTC

  Lugo will attend Mercosur summit; Unasur chair transfer to be advanced

  

  Paraguayan removed president Fernando Lugo denied legitimacy to the administration of his successor Federico Franco and announced he will be travelling next week to Mendoza for the Mercosur meeting of presidents scheduled for next June 29.

• Monday, June 25th 2012 - 06:25 UTC

  Uruguay recommends new presidential elections for the Paraguayan crisis

  

  Uruguay called for strict respect of the Mercosur and Unasur democratic clauses and said the best way out of the current political crisis in Paraguay was to hold presidential elections as soon as possible.

• Monday, June 25th 2012 - 06:19 UTC

  Brazil says it is “impossible” to force the Paraguayan congress to review the removal of Lugo

  

  Brazil will wait for the Paraguayan situation caused by the removal of Fernando Lugo “to decant” before assessing the most appropriate measures to address the “rupture of democratic order” in the country, according to Planalto sources.

• Sunday, June 24th 2012 - 02:27 UTC

  Franco: “no coup, a change of leadership”; Germany admits new government

  

  “There is no coup here,” assured the new president of Paraguay Federico Franco on Saturday, who acted confidently before the international press following the ousting of Fernando Lugo on Friday.

• Sunday, June 24th 2012 - 02:22 UTC

  Argentina withdraws ambassador from Paraguay: Mercosur decides next week

  

  Argentina is withdrawing its ambassador to Paraguay because of the rapid impeachment of former Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

• Saturday, June 23rd 2012 - 03:48 UTC

  Franco promises to uphold democracy and honour international agreements

  

  Paraguayan vice-president Federico Franco, 49, was sworn-in on Friday afternoon as president following Fernando Lugo’s impeachment that had him removed in less than two days.

• Saturday, June 23rd 2012 - 03:43 UTC

  “A coup against democracy” organized by the political class and mafia claims Lugo

  

  Ousted Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo addressed thousands of citizens outside the presidential palace and assured there had been a “coup against democracy” but also said he would respect the formality of the Senate’s decision and called on followers to march peacefully.

• Saturday, June 23rd 2012 - 03:25 UTC

  Mercosur/Unasur anticipate “appropriate measures” against coup in Paraguay

  

  President Cristina Fernández assured on Friday night that “Argentina does not condone the coup in Paraguay” and anticipated that “appropriate measures” will be taken at next week’s Mercosur Summit, scheduled to take place in Mendoza.

• Tuesday, June 19th 2012 - 06:23 UTC

  Uruguay economy expands 1.9% in the first quarter but uncertainties persist

  

  Uruguay’s economic growth quickened in the first quarter, spurred by increased transport and communications. GDP expanded 4.2% from a year earlier and grew 1.9% from the fourth quarter of 2011, the central bank said on its website.