Mercosur

• Wednesday, February 4th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Economy Nobel Prise Stiglitz blasts US 2005 budget

  Economy Nobel Prize Joseph Stiglitz strongly criticized the President Bush administration budget project for 2005 sent to Congress last Monday describing it as “unrealistic”, “unproductive” and “dangerous”.

• Wednesday, February 4th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador removes envoy under fire

  At Argentina's request Ecuador yesterday removed its ambassador Germánico Molina after he last month allegedly helped Guillermo Suárez Mason, a member of the past military dictatorship, to violate the house arrest he was serving for baby snatching.

• Tuesday, February 3rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Australia investigating “Maya V” catch

  A Uruguayan-registered longliner caught allegedly fishing illegally in Australia's Antarctic waters last week was escorted into harbour at Fremantle, Western Australia on Sunday 1 February by Customs officials and the Australian Navy.

• Tuesday, February 3rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay questions Australian EEZ in remote islands.

  Uruguayan Fisheries Director Captain Yamandu Flangini questioned the Australian claim to an Exclusive Economic Zone in the remote islands of Heard and McDonald and revealed that currently there are only four Uruguayan flagged vessels licenced to operate in international waters.

• Tuesday, February 3rd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Mesa orders spending cuts for Bolivia

  Carlos Mesa, Bolivia's president, has imposed severe public spending cuts and new taxes on the country's middle class and private sector, in an effort to avert a repeat of the social explosion that rocked the country last October.

• Monday, February 2nd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Lan Chile fined for breach of fares plan

  Lan Chile was finally fined the equivalent of 52,000 US dollars (30 million Chilean Pesos) for breach of the self regulating plan for domestic flights fares which became effective in 1995 when the company absorbed Ladeco, the second largest Chilean air carrier.

• Monday, February 2nd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil overshoots primary surplus target

  Brazil managed in 2003 to overshoot the primary budget surplus agreed with the IMF, according to a release from the Brazilian Central Bank. The primary budget surplus last year was established in 4,25% of GDP, but actually reached 4,32%.

• Monday, February 2nd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Four Dutch frigates for Chilean Navy

  Chilean Defence Minister Michelle Bachelet announced in Santiago that the government had authorized the beginning of the negotiation process for the acquisition of four second hand Dutch frigates. Ms. Bachelet simultaneously declared the “Plan Fragata”, an international bidding process for a long term project to build new frigates in Chile was declared “deserted”.

• Monday, February 2nd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  ENAP to invest 49 million US dollars

  The Chilean government owned oil company, ENPA, will be investing a total of 334 million US dollars during 2004, of which 49 million in Magallanes Region, according to the latest announcement of the company.

• Monday, February 2nd 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Peru: Unconvincing president deepens political crisis

  In a televised address to the nation, Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo said that his legal adviser accused of close links with a corruption ring had acted behind his back and insisted that the scandal would not harm his administration.