Mercosur

• Wednesday, August 25th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva offers Chile natural gas

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offered to supply natural gas to Chile which this winter faced a serious energy shortage.

• Tuesday, August 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Public confidence in Kirchner administration eroding.

  Public confidence in Argentine President Nestor Kirchner's administration dropped significantly in August reaching the lowest since the former Santa Cruz province governor took office May 25 last year according to the latest survey from the Di Tella University

• Tuesday, August 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF and Argentina soothe relations.

  The International Monetary Fund, IMF, will contemplate Argentina enabling the delay of a billion US dollars payment that are due next December, reported the Buenos Aires press this Monday.

• Tuesday, August 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil promotes exports.

  The Brazilian government encouraged with record exports forecasted to reach 90 billion US dollars this year announced cuts in red tape that should help to further promote overseas sales.

• Tuesday, August 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva regional integration tour.

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva currently on a state visit to Chile to promote regional integration underlined the importance of Congress in democratic systems.

• Monday, August 23rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Turning “Malvinas” into positive thinking.

  Turning the Malvinas expression into a “positive diplomatic neologism” avoiding that sovereignty over the Islands completely moves aside other very significant issues of the Argentine-United Kingdom relation is the latest proposal of Rodriguez Giavarini a former Argentine Foreign Affairs minister.

• Monday, August 23rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Breaking News from Pta. Arenas.

  Headlines:
  Seismic survey begins in Tierra del Fuego; Chile targets liquid natural gas terminal; New Chilean cruise vessel “Antarctic Dream”; Sustainable tourism forum in Punta Arenas; Marine bird protection from long lining; Joint Chilean-Argentine naval exercises.

• Monday, August 23rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Observers insist: no proof of fraud in Venezuelan referendum.

  Independent observers confirmed that the random auditing of results from the recall referendum (Sunday August 15) against Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez show there are no indications of fraud as claimed by the opposition.

• Monday, August 23rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “Hoarding and speculation” considered behind oil price.

  OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) president Indonesian Energy minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the organization was increasingly “concerned” with the disproportionate rise in oil prices which almost reached 50 US dollars a barrel last Friday.

• Monday, August 23rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil denies financial support for Varig.

  The Brazilian government is not considering any form of capital injection to the country's flag carrier Varig, according to Finance Minister Antonio Palocci.