Mercosur

• Wednesday, April 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Menem says he won't return to Argentina to face charges.

  Claiming political persecution, former Argentine President Carlos Menem said he has no intention of responding to multiple summonses to appear in court in his country, but he denied he would ask for asylum in Chile.

• Tuesday, April 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  World trade set to expand 7,5% in 2004.

  World trade should expand 7,5% in 2004, as long as there are no setbacks to the world economy reported this Monday in Geneva the World Trade Organization, WTO.

• Tuesday, April 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina raises wholesale natural gas prices 40%

  Following an agreement reached over the weekend with the Argentine government, natural gas producers will be allowed to increase wholesale prices by 40% as long as they guarantee full supply to domestic consumers until 2007.

• Tuesday, April 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean irritation with Argentina.

  The Chilean government reiterated this Monday its irritation with Argentina following Buenos Aires decision to reduce natural gas exports to Chile. “International agreements are based in good faith”, underlined Chilean Ministry of Interior Jose Miguel Insulza confirming Chile's dissatisfaction with Argentina's attitude.

• Tuesday, April 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Mexico celebrates 100 years of oil industry.

  Mexican government owned oil corporation Pemex is planning to drill its first deepwater well this year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first well drilled in San Luis de Potosi making Mexico one of the world's leading producers.

• Monday, April 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  FTAA talks: agriculture differences persist.

  The “informal” talks held in Buenos Aires last week with the purpose of advancing negotiations for the creation of the Free Trade Association of the Americas, FTAA, block late this month in Mexico failed when no agreement was reached on farm export subsidies.

• Monday, April 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine public debt jumped 25,8 billion US dollars.

  Argentina's public debt increased 25,841 billion US dollars during 2003 because of accrued interests to creditors and the appreciation of the peso, Euro and Yen vis-à-vis the US dollar, announced the Argentine Ministry of Economy.

• Monday, April 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “Maya V” crewmembers back in Punta Arenas.

  Most Chilean crewmembers of the Uruguayan flagged longliner “Maya V” apprehended by Australian authorities, arrived last Sunday in Punta Arenas to an emotive family reception, reports La Prensa Austral. No officials were present.

• Sunday, April 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  CAN and Mercosur agree tariff reduction.

  Early Sunday dawn and after eight exhausting years of negotiations, three of the five members of the Andean Community of Nations, CAN, signed in Buenos Aires a free trade agreement with Mercosur.

• Saturday, April 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Malvinas will be recovered with “dialogue and peace”

  “Malvinas will be Argentine through dialogue and peace”, said Argentine president Nestor Kirchner during the main commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the Falkland Islands war that took place in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.