Mercosur

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

  Squid fishery north of parallel 39 closed as of June 27

  Argentina's Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) unanimously decided this week to close the Illex squid fishery north of parallel 39º 40' South, in the South Atlantic as of zero hour June 27.

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

  Reforms in Chile's Defense Sector Advance

  Chile's Minister of Defense, Mr. Jaime Ravinet participated yesterday in Washington in a “Face to Face Encounter” at the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies to discuss Chile's reforms aimed at restructuring and modernizing the defense sector.

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

  Harvest falls in mixed year say Uruguayan wineries

  Uruguay has reported a total harvest for 2005 of about 90m litres. The result is some 10% below the annual average, as variable weather throughout the year made winemakers work hard for results.

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

  Bolivia: Change to Oil Law

  A tax increase on foreign oil companies operating in Bolivia was signed into law yesterday by President Eduardo Rodríguez, raising the total charges from 38 percent to 50 percent effective immediately.

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

  Brasilia taken over by protesting farmers

  A massive protest of Brazilian farmers and a first batch of 2.500 tractors converged on the capital Brasilia to protest about debts and a strong currency which hinders commodities exports.

• 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.