Mercosur

• Friday, June 10th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF praises Uruguay and approves new stand by arrangement

  The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund today approved a 36-month, SDR 766.3 million (about 1.13 billion US dollars) Stand-By Arrangement for Uruguay, aimed at supporting the country's economic stabilization through mid-2008 and helping to foster sustainable growth while reducing vulnerabilities related to high public debt.

• Friday, June 10th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia: caretaker president and early elections.

  The head of Bolivia's Supreme Court Eduardo Martinez was sworn in late Thursday as the country's new president with the almost only task of calling early elections that should help overcome the political turmoil which had Bolivia in the brink of civil war.

• Friday, June 10th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Malvinas: “Assertion Day of Argentine rights”

  The Argentine government ratified its “permanent and unrenounceable determination to recover” the Malvinas islands by “peaceful means” on the commemoration this Friday of the “Assertion Day of Argentine rights” over the South Atlantic islands.

• Thursday, June 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula sacks corrupt officials from his party

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sacked the leading officials from the government run Post Office and the Reinsurances Institute following corruption allegations involving members of his own ruling party.

• Thursday, June 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF describes the Euro as a “great success”

  International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo Rato described the Euro as a “great success” and once again warned about world financial misbalances during a press conference Wednesday in Frankfort.

• Thursday, June 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia calls for international observers

  Bolivian President Carlos Mesa arguing the country is undergoing one of the most critical situations of its history as a republic” requested Argentina, Brazil and the United Nations to send observers.

• Wednesday, June 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  OAS calls for resumption of Falklands negotiations

  The Organization of American States, OAS meeting this week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, called on Argentina and Britain to resume sovereignty negotiations on the Falklands/Malvinas issue.

• Wednesday, June 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan Argentina begins operations flying to Mendoza

  Lan Chile made true a long standing ambition this Wednesday morning when its recently created Argentine subsidiary began operations with a 1,100 kilometres flight from Buenos Aires to Mendoza carrying 68 passengers.

• Wednesday, June 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner-Lagos summit in Rio Gallegos

  In a new act of regional integration Argentine and Chilean presidents will be meeting Friday in Rio Gallegos, Santa Cruz province, for the inauguration of the latest leg of the now asphalt carpeted 250 kilometres road linking with Punta Arenas.

• Wednesday, June 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia on the “verge of civil war”

  The Bolivian Congress has plans to resume activities Thursday in Sucre to consider President Carlos Mesa resignation offer in the midst of a chaotic situation with warnings of “civil war” and radical leaders calling for more street violence.