Mercosur

• Wednesday, June 29th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  De-mining along Bolivian border begins July 21

  Chile will begin next July 21 the destruction of antipersonnel mines planted along the Bolivian border, announced the Chilean Consul in La Paz, Francisco Perez Walker.

• Wednesday, June 29th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile will not apologize for supporting the British

  Chile considers that the collaboration given to Britain during the Falklands' conflict in 1982 happened in “another historic context” and does not anticipate apologizing, said Wednesday Chilean Defence Minister Jaime Ravinet.

• Wednesday, June 29th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Falklands' book: Argentina considering legal actions

  The Argentine government is studying the adoption of legal and diplomatic measures following the launching in Britain of the book, “The official history of the Falklands campaign”, written by Professor of War Studies and Vice-Principal of King's College London, Sir Lawrence Freedman.

• Wednesday, June 29th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina forecasts Malvinas “full sovereignty”, quiet soon

  Argentine Defence Minister Jose Pampuro said that before than expected Argentina “will be in condition to recover the Malvinas”, or improve its position, adding that the United Kingdom has “enormous problems in sustaining” the Islands

• Tuesday, June 28th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF-Argentina controversy over fiscal policy

  Argentine government sources and private economists rejected the International Monetary Fund's proposal for larger primary surpluses to face foreign debt payments and supported the Argentine Central Bank policy of targeting a “competitive” exchange rate.

• Tuesday, June 28th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bush promotes trade, Chavez promises cheap oil

  United States president George W Bush sent to Congress the Central America & Dominican Republic Free Trade Association, CAFTA, a free trade agreement which faces strong opposition from Democrats and organized labour.

• Tuesday, June 28th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Soybeans have become Argentina's main export industry

  In spite of the significant recovery of Argentine industry following the massive December 2001 devaluation of the local peso, agriculture commodities and particularly soybeans have become the country's main export.

• Tuesday, June 28th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Naval and air exercises in the Pacific and Mercosur

  Chilean frigate “Almirante Williams”, former HMS Sheffield, left Valparaiso Monday to participate in the naval exercise “Operation America 2005” together with units from neighbouring countries.

• Tuesday, June 28th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Business concern with Brazil's political situation

  One of Brazil's largest and most influential companies said it was postponing investments until the political situation is more stable given the expanding reverberations of the corruption scandal which has virtually paralyzed the administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

• Monday, June 27th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez hikes military pay and calls for unity

  A uniformed Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called for unity among the country's military to advance with his so-called “Bolivarian Revolution”.
  “We're going to celebrate with our morale high, united, making history, the new history, the new homeland: the Bolivarian Revolution” said Mr. Chavez during a parade in a military compound close to Caracas.