Mercosur

• Friday, October 14th 2011 - 03:24 UTC

  Uruguay and Argentina agree to ignore Vazquez “war” statements

  

  The governments of Uruguay and Argentina have decided to ignore the controversy born out of statements from former President Tabare Vazquez who said that during the Botnia-UPM pulp plant conflict, back in 2006/07, he did not discard a “war hypothesis” given the aggressive attitude of Argentina and for which he had requested support from the Bush administration.

• Friday, October 14th 2011 - 03:21 UTC

  Argentina agrees to dredge a River Plate access canal, crucial for Uruguayan ports

  

  Uruguay and Argentina approved this week conditions to begin dredging the River Plate Martin Garcia access channel, an ongoing dispute of over ten years that seriously constrained Uruguay’s ports development, according to reports in the Montevideo media.

• Friday, October 14th 2011 - 03:12 UTC

  Uruguay forecasted to expand 5.5% this year and 4.5% in 2012

  

  The Uruguayan economy is forecasted to expand 5.5% this year generating 40.000 new jobs, and 4.5% in 2012, according to “Prospects and Tendencies” announced Thursday by the Economy Institute from the Economics Faculty.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 07:53 UTC

  Uruguayan First Lady described Vazquez ‘war hypotheses as absurd and a kids’ anecdote

  

  Uruguay’s First Lady Lucia Topolansky described statements from former president Tabare Vazquez referred to a possible ‘war hypotheses’ with Argentina over the paper mill conflict as ‘absurd’ and recommended those words shouldn’t be considered more than a simple kids’ anecdote.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 07:51 UTC

  Argentina denies any ‘war hypothesis’ with Uruguay over controversial pulp mill

  

  Argentine officials reacted strongly to remarks from former Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez who revealed that during the prolonged diplomatic conflict with Argentina over the construction of the Botnia-UPM pulp plant, he feared the situation could have led to an armed confrontation.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 07:50 UTC

  Colombian president praises US congress for ratifying free trade agreement

  

  President Juan Manuel Santos praised US Congress ratification of a long-stalled free trade agreement with the United States and said it was a historic day for Colombian business and workers.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 06:00 UTC

  US Congress approves free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and S Korea

  

  The United States Congress voted Wednesday on a bipartisan basis to pass long delayed free-trade bills with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 05:56 UTC

  Argentina calls on Mercosur to promote inter-trade and cut out of region imports

  

  Argentina called on Latin America to promote inter-trade among the region’s countries replacing the almost 460 billion dollars of manufactured goods from the rest of the world imported in 2010.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 05:54 UTC

  Massive demonstration in Brasilia against corruption and impunity

  

  Over 200.000 people took to the streets of the Brazilian capital to protest against corruption and impunity. The Wednesday rally was convened through the social networks and responds to citizens’ organizations with no political affiliation.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 05:43 UTC

  Massive car crash in Chile involves 51 vehicles kills 5 and injures over 50

  

  In Chile a massive car crash involving 23 trucks, 17 smaller vehicles and 11 buses left at least five dead and many others injured Wednesday morning, local authorities report. The accident occurred just past 7 a.m. at the turnoff for Algarrobo on the eastbound side of Route 68, which connects coastal Valparaíso to Santiago.