Mercosur

• Thursday, September 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Bielsa calls for more “Antarctic cooperation”.

  Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Rafael Bielsa last Tuesday called for a “more effective international cooperation” in Antarctica during the official inauguration of the Antarctic Treaty permanent Secretariat in Buenos Aires.

• Wednesday, September 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Pardelhas case re emerges in Punta Arenas.

  A Punta Arenas magistrate opened the way for the seizure and auctioning of two fishing vessels belonging to Pardelhas Fishing Company after ruling that the company owes maritime agent Ultramar the equivalent of 165,000 US dollars, reports La Prensa Austral.

• Wednesday, September 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean salmon exports increase 22%

  Chilean salmon and trout exports reached 820 million US dollars during the first seven months of 2004, a 22% increase over the same period in 2003, according to SalmonChile A.G., the Chilean salmon industry association.

• Wednesday, September 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record US budget deficit.

  United States federal budget deficit is forecasted to reach a record breaking 422 billion US dollars in 2004, according to the Congressional Budget Office, CBO. However the figure is below earlier estimates.

• Tuesday, September 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Red carpet for frigates buyer.

  Chilean Defence Minister Michele Bachelet received this week a privileged red carpet treatment in Holland where she was invited by her Dutch counterpart Henk Kamp and Secretary of State Cees van der Knaap.

• Tuesday, September 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  OPEC will keep reference prices unchanged.

  The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, will maintain the oil prices reference band unchanged in the coming meeting scheduled for September 15 in Vienna, said Purnomo Yusgiantoro, OPEC's president.

• Tuesday, September 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile anticipates interest rate increase.

  Consumer inflation in Chile last August reached 0,4% pushed by energy, housing and food prices, and above market analysts forecast of 0,3%, according to the latest report released last Friday.

• Tuesday, September 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine Deputies will hold session in Antarctica.

  The Argentine House of Deputies Foreign Affairs Committee has unanimously decided to hold a session in Antarctica next November 12 to underline the country's long historical Antarctic tradition, reports the Argentine press.

• Tuesday, September 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  DAP ready for Antarctic air cruises.

  DAP Airways from Punta Arenas is planning fifteen air cruises to Antarctica this coming season between November and March 15 totaling 700 visitors. Last season the number of cruises was twelve and the visitors 400.

• Tuesday, September 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Buenos Aires feels strong seism in central Argentina

  A strong seism followed by replicas shook Tuesday morning great extensions of central and northern Argentina causing alarm in several cities and leaving at least one person killed and tens injured.