Mercosur

• 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.

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

  “Maya V” Punta Arenas connection?

  Relatives of Punta Arenas Chilean crew members of the Uruguayan flagged “Maya V” currently jailed in Fremantle for allegedly illegally fishing in Australian waters anticipated they will be pressing charges against “Pesca Cisne” the local company that recruited them, reports La Prensa Austral.

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

  Decolonization with “active participation of the peoples”

  UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has reiterated the call for decolonisation of remaining listed territories, including Gibraltar, a process in full partnership with the administering powers as well as with the active participation of the peoples of the territories.

• Sunday, February 15th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Split presidential duties in Peru's future

  A majority of Peruvians would like to see elected President Alejandro Toledo step aside keeping his head of state duties, but leaving the day to day administration of the country in the hands of the current Cabinet Chief with the support of an independent and consensus cabinet.

• Friday, February 13th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  “Aerolineas Air One” instead of “Tango One”?

  Antonio Mata, Spanish CEO of Argentina's flag carrier Aerolineas Argentinas said that the company will willingly provide the Argentine presidency with an aircraft if “Tango One”, the official jet is seized abroad.

• Friday, February 13th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil confirms FTAA on deadline target

  Progress was made at last week's Free Trade Association of the Americas, (FTAA), meeting in Mexico making the trade agreement 2005 deadline “more realistic”, said a Brazilian Foreign Ministry official this Thursday.

• Friday, February 13th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Flangini: “toothfish fishing is not restricted”

  Uruguayan Fisheries Director Captain Yamandú Flangini said this Thursday he ignored the charges presented by Australian authorities against officers and crew of the Uruguayan flagged longliner “Maya V” allegedly caught illegally fishing in Australian waters.