Mercosur

• 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.

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

  Uruguayan president in Spain

  Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle arrived Sunday in Spain on his first official visit to the country during which he will press for investment and promote closer bilateral relations, officials said in Montevideo.

• Saturday, January 31st 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Castro Says Bush Plotting to Kill Him.

  Fidel Castro accused President Bush on Friday of plotting with Miami exiles to kill him, and said he would die fighting if the United States ever invaded to oust him.

• Saturday, January 31st 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine President back to Bs. Aires.

  Kirchner and his delegation boarded the Tango 01 presidential plane yesterday evening to end a four-day official visit. They are expected back in Buenos Aires this morning after a re-fueling stop in Fortaleza, Brazil.

• Friday, January 30th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Swiss Justice investigates 200 former Menem officials

  Argentine Minister of Justice Gustavo Beliz and Swiss magistrate Chritine Junod confirmed Thursday that “over 200 former officials” from the Carlos Menem administration are “under investigation” in Switzerland for alleged claims of corruption and money laundering.

• Friday, January 30th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Magallanes unemployment 6,5%

  Magallanes Region unemployment experienced a slight 0,2% increase in the last quarter of 2003 reaching 6,5%. However compared to a year ago it remained unchanged and Magallanes is below the national Chilean average of 7,4%.

• Friday, January 30th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina's defaulted debt “critical”, says IMF

  Even when Argentina successfully managed to jump the hurdle of the first performance review of its stand by arrangement with the IMF, the official IMF release underlines that the “restructuring of Argentina's sovereign defaulted debt remains the most critical task for the coming period”.