Mercosur

• Wednesday, December 10th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina's fisheries “dissuasion” policy

  In coincidence with the South Atlantic fisheries talks scheduled to begin this Thursday in Buenos Aires, the Argentine government leaked to the local press that it has reinforced its fisheries patrolling policy with the purpose of “dissuading” the 300 jiggers operating in the high seas.

• Tuesday, December 9th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Toughened stance taken on authorisation of Korean factory vessels.

  The Chilean government has requested a report from Korean fishing authorities regarding the 80 vessels that were authorised to work opposite the Chilean coast, reported the Foreign Secretary, Soledad Alvear

• Tuesday, December 9th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Ailing dollar falls to record low.

  The dollar has fallen to a record new low against the euro, before Tuesday's interest rates decision in the US.

• Tuesday, December 9th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil's bank chief sees enduring growth cycle

  Following nearly a year of recession under the left-leaning government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil is entering a cycle of enduring economic growth, the central bank chief said on Monday.

• Monday, December 8th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile-Colombia increase cooperation

  Colombian president Alvaro Uribe begins this Monday a two days official visit to Chile during which he will sign several cooperation, security and trade agreements.

• Monday, December 8th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  “Turn the lights off and look for another job”

  Ronald Brown, president of the Chilean Association of Exporters warned that if the exchange rate in Chile drops to 500 pesos to the US dollar then, “turn the lights off and look for another job”.

• Monday, December 8th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Landslide defeat for Uruguayan government

  The Uruguayan government suffered a landslide defeat this Sunday when 60% of a referendum electorate rejected a bill that would limit the monopoly of the government owned oil company and allow its association with foreign investors.

• Monday, December 8th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Good prospects for Brazilian bonds. Above inflation target

  In spite of the inflation target setback, Brazil's prospects in the sovereign bond market are encouraging, “but the Central Bank is not in a hurry; the situation is becoming ever more favourable for Brazil”, said Alexandre Schwartsmann head of International Affairs of Brazil's Central Bank.

• Monday, December 8th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Cuba opens to American oil companies

  The Cuban government underlined this Sunday it has a “no objections at all” policy towards United States oil companies wishing to look for hydrocarbons in the island's Exclusive Economic Zone, EEZ in the Gulf of Mexico area, as long as it's done on “a mutual benefit basis”.

• Saturday, December 6th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina eliminates all antipersonnel mines.

  In a symbolic ceremony Argentina this week destroyed the last twenty antipersonnel mines of its inventory, thus complying with the terms of the 1997 Ottawa Convention for the elimination of all of these deadly explosives by January 2004.