Mercosur

• Sunday, January 23rd 2011 - 19:39 UTC

  Bolivian Defence Spending Increases

  

  The Bolivian government has increased its military budget by more than 120% during the last decade, increasing 64% during President Evo Morales five years in office, according to a report compiled by Bolivian journalist, Ruy D’Alencar Delgado, published in El Deber newspaper.

• Monday, December 20th 2010 - 16:39 UTC

  Lula da Silva calls for an enlarged Mercosur to better defend the region’s interests

  

  Brazilian president Lula de Silva strongly defended Mercosur calling for a quick approval of Venezuela’s incorporation as full member, and proposed other associate members such Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile should follow the same path since ‘we share the same political, economic and cultural affinities’.

• Monday, December 20th 2010 - 16:36 UTC

  Paraguayan Senators put a price on Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur

  

  Paraguayan senators reiterated that given certain conditions and political agreements they are prepared to vote for Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur as full member.

• Monday, December 20th 2010 - 05:39 UTC

  Three more Latam countries ‘are ready to recognize’ a Palestine state

  

  Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru are expected to recognize the state of Palestine with its borders prior to 1967, following the recent announcements from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and last week Bolivia, according to Palestine sources.

• Saturday, December 18th 2010 - 00:11 UTC

  Mujica calls on other Latinamerican countries to join Mercosur

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica called on the Mercosur summit for a quick incorporation of Venezuela as full member of the group and said it was time the rest of Latin America moved closer to the integration process.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 23:58 UTC

  Venezuela crucial to consolidate “energy front” says Cristina Kirchner

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner underlined the significance of Venezuela as a full member of Mercosur which should enable the group to consolidate an energy front.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 23:12 UTC

  Paraguayan president confirms Mercosur/EU trade agreement is top of the agenda

  

  Conditions are ready to reach in the short term a trade agreement with the European Union, said Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo whose country, and for the next six months, holds the pro tempore chair of the South American block.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 07:17 UTC

  Mercosur after closer trade relations with Cuba, Palestine, Syria and NZ

  

  Member nations of Mercosur will seek to boost economic and political ties with Cuba in a bid to make the island an associate member of the trade bloc.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 07:11 UTC

  Mercosur condemns UK on Malvinas; promises to monitor shipping in support of oil activities

  

  The Mercosur summit approved Thursday a declaration protesting “formally and energetically” UK’s decision to hold military exercises in the Malvinas islands and reiterated support for Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the South Atlantic Islands.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 06:45 UTC

  Mercosur summit launches ambitious action plan to ensure customs union

  

  Mercosur leaders meeting in Brazil launched a plan to adopt common trade, investment and immigration policies to help underpin unprecedented economic growth in the region.