Mercosur

• Monday, October 20th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean peso stronger and stronger.

  With the country risk at its lowest and favourable trade prospects following the signing of the free trade agreement with United States, Chile's peso is appreciating and the price of the US dollar in Chilean money markets falling, a downward tendency that promises to continue.

• Monday, October 20th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivian Indian leader promises more trouble

  Felipe Quisque leader of Bolivia's main peasants' organizations anticipated more “social agitation” for next April with the purpose of “deposing” interim president Carlos Mesa who took office this week after a month long of riots that forced the resignation of Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada.

• Monday, October 20th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  WTO cautions about bilateralism.

  World Trade Organization Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi addressing the 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC summit meeting in Thailand, called for a strong political commitment with the resumption of the failed global trade negotiations.

• Monday, October 20th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina: Breaking News.

  Headlines:
  Top marks for President Kirchner; Mending fences with investors.

• Sunday, October 19th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Cruise season kicks off in Ushuaia.

  With the arrival of the Chilean cruise “Mare Australis” and 132 visitors the most southern city of the world Ushuaia in Argentine Tierra del Fuego, officially inaugurated this week the 2003/04 cruise season.

• Sunday, October 19th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivia's Mesa to announce new cabinet of non-politicians

  New Bolivian President Carlos Mesa Gisbert is to announce on Sunday his cabinet which is to be composed of non-politicians who he feels are the only ones able to put an end to the crisis which cost the job of his predecessor.

• Saturday, October 18th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivian Congress nominates new president.

  Vice-president Carlos Mesa is Bolivia's new president following the resignation letter of president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada. Bolivian Congress in a special night session accepted the resignation letter and voted in Mr. Mesa 84 to 26 votes.

• Friday, October 17th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Buenos Aires-Brasilia axis consolidates.

  Argentina and Brazil's presidents Nestor Kirchner and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva committed their countries this Thursday in Buenos Aires to the “political consolidation of Mercosur” with the purpose of “strengthening a joint position before the world” and ratified that trade negotiations involving United States must recognize the regional block.

• Friday, October 17th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  “South-South” trade round.

  Argentina will propose a round of “South-South” trade negotiations, an initiative which is a virtual challenge to current discussions in the framework of the World Trade Organization, WTO but condemned to failure by the protectionist policies of United State, European Union and Japan.

• Friday, October 17th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine-Brazilian delegation to Bolivia.

  Argentine and Brazilian presidents have sent two special envoys to Bolivia to help find a solution to the political and social crisis that has left a toll of dozens of protestors killed, virtually paralyzed all economic activity and has the country in the verge of an institutional meltdown.