Mercosur

• Sunday, June 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Strengthening democracy.

  Upholding and strengthening democratic governance figures as top priority of the Organization of American States, OAS, 33rd. General Assembly agenda that begins this Sunday in Santiago de Chile.

• Sunday, June 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Another US-Brazil round

  The OAS general assembly in Santiago de Chile will be the scenario for another round of United States-Brazil talks, in anticipation of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's official visit to Washington.

• Saturday, June 7th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  U.S., Chile Sign Historic Free Trade Agreement

  On June 6, the United States and Chile signed a Free Trade Agreement
  (FTA) “that when fully implemented eliminates bilateral tariffs,
  lowers trade barriers, promotes economic integration and expands
  opportunities for the peoples of both countries,” the Office of the
  U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced.

• Friday, June 6th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina opens secret service files on terrorist attacks.

  The new Argentine government ordered secret service files to be opened to help the investigation of the bloodiest terrorist attack ever suffered by the country.

• Friday, June 6th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Free Trade Agreement between Chile and U.S.A.

  Culminating a process begun almost nine years ago, Chile today Friday will become the first South American country to sign a free trade agreement with the United States

• Thursday, June 5th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  President Kirchner Asks Congress to Remove Judges.

  Argentine President Nestor Kirchner criticized the Supreme Court and called on Congress to remove one or more of its justices, a move that may help consolidate his political power.

• Wednesday, June 4th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile and Argentina closer.

  Argentina and Chile's Foreign Affairs ministers said that the free trade agreement Chile will be signing this Friday with the United States will not influence the strengthening of the Mercosur process.

• Wednesday, June 4th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Interest rates and Lula's popularity remain high

  In spite of his praised performance in the Evian G8 summit in France before the leaders of the world's richest countries, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is still pressed by the ongoing interest rate controversy that divides his administration.

• Wednesday, June 4th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Greenspan anticipates modest growth.

  Federal Reserve president Alan Greenspan praised the extraordinary resilience of the United States economy and forecasted that the growth rate will quicken, although not as rapidly as anticipated by some analysts.

• Wednesday, June 4th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina returns to deflation.

  Following sixteen months of inflation triggered last January 2002, when the Argentine currency was freely floated mainly against the US dollar, retail prices in Argentina have returned to practically zero or even negative.