Mercosur

• Wednesday, March 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  FAO debates sustainable and responsible fishing.

  Fisheries management problems, potential contributions for protected marine areas leading to sustainable fishing and responsible resumption of fishing efforts in Southeast Asian tsunami-affected countries are among the main issues to be debated this week by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations (FAO) Committee on Fisheries.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Rammell in two days visit to Cuba

  Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell is currently on a two days visit to Cuba, the first official from a European nation to go to the island since Brussels imposed diplomatic sanctions on Fidel Castro' regime almost two years ago.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Human Rights: Cuba expects Latinamerican solidarity

  Cuba hopes no Latinamerican country will support or co-sponsor this year any draft resolution promoted by the United States before the United Nations Geneva Human Rights Commission, (HRC) targeted against Fidel Castro's regime.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia: waiting for Morales move

  Bolivian president Carlos Mesa was confirmed by Congress Tuesday night following the signing of a governance agreement with two of the country's main political parties which supposedly will grant the administration a working majority hopefully ending weeks of political turmoil and street blockades that were strangling the economy.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  China planning to expand “modest” 8% in 2005

  China is planning to grow a “modest” 8% in 2005 after having achieved a 9,5% expansion last year reported Prime Minister Wen Jiabao during the inaugural address to the 3,000 members of the Peoples National Assembly in Beijing.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Negative inflation in Chile.

  The Chilean Consumers Price Index contracted 0,1% last February and accumulates minus 0,4% in the first two months of 2005, reports the country's Statistics Department.
  However the last twelve months index reached 2,2%.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Czech Republic helps with Torres del Paine recovery

  Chilean Agriculture Minister Jaime Campos downplayed the environmental impact of the Torres del Paine park forest fire which ravaged since mid February and announced Chile and the Czech republic will be collaborating in the restoration of Chilean Patagonia's main wild life attraction.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan Chile interested in Southern Winds

  Chilean flag carrier Lan admitted it was holding talks for a possible purchase or association with Argentine airline Southern Winds.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  All ready for the next Bolivian confrontation.

  The delicate political situation in Bolivia edged higher when President Carlos Mesa, as he had anticipated, formally presented Monday his resignation before Congress which now has 48 hours to accept or reject it.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean and Argentine cadets in naval cruise

  Forty two Argentine naval cadets will be participating in the Chilean Navy's fiftieth instruction cruise aboard the “Esmeralda” which leaves March 13 from Valparaiso.