Mercosur

• Saturday, August 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Strong “dissuasive” Chilean signal to Peru.

  After several weeks of difficult diplomatic exchanges with Peru repeatedly calling for a review of maritime borders, Chile sent a “dissuasive” signal to its northern neighbor with a military display just across the border.

• Saturday, August 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur plans a “South American Community”.

  A more flexible Mercosur with a several speed integration process, structural support fund for the weakest economies plus an “energy compensation belt” helping to match demand and supply culminating in a “South American Community” or “United States of South America”, is the ambitious agenda for the next six months set out this week in Brazil.

• Friday, August 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Defeat of “people to people diplomacy”

  “Heavy handed Foreign Ministry pressure” seems to be the response to “people to people diplomacy and the triumph of reconciliation”, points out The Buenos Aires Herald in its Thursday (August 5) editorial criticizing Argentine government's reaction to a private visit by Malvinas Families next of kin to the recently finished Argentine Memorial in Darwin

• Friday, August 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Australia, NZ and US allied to fight illegal fishing.

  Australia is helping to lead the way with a new approach to combat illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean through the adoption of a centralized Vessel Monitoring System (cams).

• Friday, August 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Latinamerica forecasted to expand 4,5%

  The United Nations Latinamerica and Caribbean Economic Commission, Cepal, forecasts a much stronger growth in the region than originally expected.

• Friday, August 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Euro rate unchanged; UK rate hops to 4,75%

  The Governing Council of the European Central Bank decided this Thursday that the minimum bid rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged at 2%, 3% and 1% respectively.

• Thursday, August 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile cautions Peruvian about border reviews.

  Chile respects all opinions but stands strongly by its borders policy was Santiago's quick reply to Peruvian demands for talks on maritime frontiers and Peru's alleged readiness “in the event of an armed conflict with Chile”.

• Thursday, August 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Montevideo, “capital of Mercosur”

  Brazil will grant full support for Montevideo as the “capital of Mercosur” revealed Tabare Vazquez the main contender in Uruguay's presidential election next October, following a meeting with Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia.

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Patagonian lamb for President Bush.

  The heaviest gift the United States president George Bush received during 2003 was from his Argentine counterpart Nestor Kirchner: 150 kilos of organic Patagonian lamb.

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina's flock recovering but?

  Argentina's sheep numbers currently stand at 13,5 million with excellent prospects of expansion if certain conditions are attainable, according to several papers presented in a sheep and wool conference during the recent Palermo Agricultural Show.