Mercosur

• Friday, February 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Rammell praises “left wing” Chile and Brazil

  Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell praised Chile and Brazil for implementing radical reforms in the framework of an orderly rule and international law, which is not necessarily happening in two other countries supposedly ruled by “left wing” governments, Argentina and Venezuela.

• Friday, February 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian economy contracted 0,2% in 2003.

  The Brazilian economy contracted 0,2% in 2003, in direct contrast with the 1,9% expansion of 2002, 1,3% of 2001 and 4,36% of 2000, according to the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Office, IBGE.

• Thursday, February 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  “Argentina is now helping herself”

  “Argentina is now helping herself” and defending its interests said Argentine president Nestor Kirchner during a public ceremony this Wednesday in Buenos Aires.

• Thursday, February 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  The government is confidant it can revindicate the Uruguayan flag internationally

  International incidents involving Uruguayan-flagged vessels, the Maya V and Viarsa I recently detained in Australian waters for illegal fishing leaves only four of the original ten Uruguayan deep-sea vessels operating outside their jurisdiction.

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

  Cuban foreign minister arrives in Argentine for 5-day visit

  Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque arrived in Argentina on Tuesday for a five-day official visit during which he will discuss human rights issues on the communist island with President Nestor Kirchner, among other matters.

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

  Judge freezes Menem's assets

  A judge yesterday froze all the assets of former president Carlos Menem, who is being investigated on charges of hiding more than 600,000 dollars from tax authorities in a Swiss account, court officials said.

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

  “Be brave for the challenges ahead”.

  The people and the government of Argentina have to be brave to face all the challenges ahead in this crucial moment, President Nestor Kirchner said yesterday.

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

  Repsol YPF lifts LatAm hydrocarbons production 15% in 2003

  Spanish oil company Repsol YPF's Latin American hydrocarbons production increased 15% to 1.05 million barrels of oil equivalent a day (mboe/d) compared to 911,900boe/d in 2002, the company said in its 2003 earnings statement.

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

  Bush takes aim at Democrat hopefuls

  After months on the defensive over Iraq, job losses and his military record, President George W. Bush has plunged into the 2004 campaign by accusing Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry of waffling on issues from Iraq to NAFTA.

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

  Haitian rebels prepare to march on capital

  Rebel forces controlling about half of Haiti prepared to move south towards Port-au-Prince, the capital, on Monday with the aim of ousting President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who has rejected opposition calls for his resignation.