Mercosur

• Wednesday, April 14th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivian president announces Cabinet reshuffle.

  Faced with resignations by several Cabinet ministers, Bolivian President Carlos Mesa reorganized his administration Tuesday night.

• Tuesday, April 13th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Crime record year for Chile.

  According to Chilean Ministry of Interior statistics, in 2003 the country experienced the highest expansion of crime activities in the country since 1997, when the annual official report was first published.

• Tuesday, April 13th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Patagonia summit next April 16.

  Mayors and governors of Chilean and Argentine Patagonia will be meeting next April 16 in Punta Arenas for the launching of the Patagonia Sur, a joint tourist trade mark promotion of the region.

• Tuesday, April 13th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner still popular despite Argentine crime wave.

  A crime wave has Argentines clamouring for relief, but does not appear to have eroded the popularity of President Nestor Kirchner, according to a poll whose release Monday coincided with news of another sensational murder.

• Monday, April 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner recovering but must remain in hospital.

  Argentine president Nestor Kirchner who since last Friday remains in Rio Gallegos Hospital after suffering a gastric injury, continues “to improve satisfactorily” with all his “vital parameters completely normalized”, indicated this Sunday his personal doctor, Luis Buonomo.

• Monday, April 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil to command UN peace contingent in Haiti.

  Brazil will be commanding a United Nations peace force to be deployed in Haiti that will be made up of Peruvian, Chilean, Argentine as well as Brazilian servicemen announced Brazilian Minister of Defence Jose Viegas.

• Monday, April 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Santiago residents contrary to Bolivian Pacific outlet.

  Three out of four Santiago residents reject the proposal of giving Bolivia an outlet to the sea, according to a public opinion poll published this Sunday in Chile's most influential daily El Mercurio. Only 14% favour the proposal.

• Monday, April 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur criticizes US and praises EU.

  The president of Mercosur' Council of Permanent Representatives, Eduardo Duhalde criticized the United State for insisting with “very selfish” criteria in the building process of the Free Trade Association of the Americas that is scheduled to be launched in 2005 encompassing all American countries with the exception of Cuba.

• Monday, April 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine expatriates transfer 225 million US dollars

  Argentines living abroad sent back home in 2003 the equivalent of 225 million US dollars a 22% increase over 2002, according to the Interamerican Development Bank Investments Multilateral Fund which keeps track of funds transferred by Latinamericans overseas.

• Monday, April 12th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina has become “latinamericanized”

  After several decades of low poverty Argentina has become highly “latinamericanized” and even with prospects of recovery the country still faces “social emergency” conditions according to a report from a private organization, Fundacion Capital.