Mercosur

• Friday, February 20th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Duhalde ratifies Mercosur support for Toledo

  Mercosur expressed its full support to Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo and called on the people and leaders of the country to defend the democratic system “in the framework of respect to constitutional principles”.

• Friday, February 20th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Maya V Crew Arrest Conditions Lightened

  Bail surety to ensure crew alleged to be involved in pirate toothfishing aboard the Maya V did not flee the country, was lessened yesterday by an Australian Court.

• Thursday, February 19th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina: Pickets plan 100 blocks nationwide

  A showdown that many fears could turn violent was brewing here Wednesday, the eve of planned massive road blockades by radical protesters known for masking their faces and carrying clubs.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Maya V: Uruguay and Australia hold talks

  Uruguay is holding talks with Australia and considering several alternatives for the liberation of imprisoned crewmembers from the Uruguayan flagged longliner “Maya V” caught in Australian waters allegedly illegally fishing Patagonian toothfish.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Corruption ring nested in Lula's office

  The Brazilian government launched an aggressive counter campaign to deter the impact of a corruption ring exposed by the Brazilian press that forced the resignation of a high ranking official from the office of President Lula da Silva's most trusted and powerful advisor.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Rammell warns about “excessive ambitions”

  United Kingdom regrets that since last December charter flights to the Falkland Islands have been suspended and wishes to resume negotiations with Argentina said British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell this Monday in Buenos Aires.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Latinamerican “amigos” no longer US priority

  United States Secretary of State Colin Powell confirmed before Congress the extended perception in the hemisphere, particularly since September 11that Latinamerica is not a priority for George Bush administration.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  South Korean Congress approves FTA with Chile

  The South Korean parliament finally ratified this Monday by a wide margin the free-trade agreement with Chile that was signed in February 2003 and had been postponed three times because of violent protests from Korean farmers.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “We won't cover up Wall Street errors”

  “Some people on Wall Street would like to cover up the errors of the past, but we won't. Argentina will pay what it can,” said Argentine Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna in an interview with the Financial Times.

• Monday, February 16th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record US trade deficit and falling dollar

  The United States trade deficit in 2003 reached a staggering 489 billion US dollars, --a quarter of it with China--, and 17,1% above the previous 2002 record.