Mercosur

• Thursday, July 31st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula ponders about IMF support.

  The administration of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is assessing whether it can free itself from International Monetary Fund support financing, or will it have to renew the current accord that expires next November.

• Thursday, July 31st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Claims of press censorship in Chile

  The Inter-American Human Rights Committee Freedom of Expression Special Rapporteur formally requested Chilean authorities to lift the ban on a controversial television documentary that was taken off the air last July 23.

• Thursday, July 31st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina recalls ambassador from Paraguay

  Argentina recalled its ambassador from Paraguay and is demanding an official explanation of remarks by a Paraguayan official characterizing Argentines and Brazilians as “scoundrels,” diplomatic sources

• Thursday, July 31st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner favors trying rights abusers in Argentina.

  President Nestor Kirchner said Wednesday that former members of the nation's 1976-1983 military dictatorship who have been accused of committing human rights violations “should be tried in Argentina.”

• Wednesday, July 30th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner: “Argentina is 6 miles undergound”.

  President Nestor Kirchner led reporters Tuesday on a tour of “the hidden Argentina,” taking the journalists to public institutions that serve the needy.

• Wednesday, July 30th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Lagos to visit Argentina to strengthen regional links.

  Chilean President Ricardo Lagos is scheduled to arrive in Buenos Aires for his first official visit to Argentina since President Nestor Kirchner took office on May 25.

• Wednesday, July 30th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguayan gov't denies knowledge of alleged plot against Castro

  President Luis Gonzalez Macchi said Tuesday that Paraguay's government has no knowledge of an alleged plan to kill Cuban leader Fidel Castro, one of the dignitaries invited to the Aug. 15 inauguration of incoming chief executive Nicanor Duarte.

• Tuesday, July 29th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF releases 1,05 billion US dollars loan to Argentina

  The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed this Monday the third review of Argentina's performance under a seven-month, SDR 2.17 billion (about US$3.04 billion) Stand-By Arrangement, which was approved last January 24, 2003.

• Monday, July 28th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Much frustration and nil satisfaction

  The last Friday decision of the Brazilian Central Bank to cut the basic interest rate, Selic, from 26 to 24,5% seems to have frustrated businessmen and unions since it's not considered sufficient to revert growing unemployment and local demand contraction.

• Monday, July 28th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  World's major observatory in Chile

  Chile signed last week the loaning during the next fifty years of 42,000 acres in the north of the country for the building of the world's major astronomy observatory, an undertaking that will demand over 550 million US dollars.