Perhaps because of its size, tiny Uruguay spends an awful lot of its time being compared with other countries.
For its solid financial system and uneventful political scene Uruguay was long referred to as the Switzerland of South America. Equally hopeful, its finest beach resort, Punta del Este, has been described as the continent's own Saint-Tropez.
In the eve of his tour of Mercosur member countries, US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill personally apologized to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in three separate statements, following last week's remarks when he said that foreign aid to these countries ended in secret Swiss accounts.
Headlines:
Fisheries Show in Uruguay; Whales are back;
Chile, Fuel prices hike; Bullish unemployment;Latinamerica:
Record unemployment
Headlines:
Uruguayan banks closed; O'Neill apologizes to Brazil; Agriculture out again?; Brazil appeals to IMF
Strong financial support for the beleaguered Uruguayan banking system was announced Wednesday morning by the Uruguayan Economy Minister Alejandro Atchugarry following successful talks in Washington with the International Monetary Fund and the US Treasury that committed 1,5 billion US dollars in immediate assistance. The 1,5 billion US dollars check includes a 700 million US dollars advance from an IMF rescue package already agreed, and another 800 million US dollars from the United States Treasury
Former Argentine dictator Leopoldo Galtieri will be released from jail and held under house arrest while a judge investigates if he played any role in the torture and execution of 22 guerrillas in 1980.
Two Chilean lawmakers whose constituents are mostly comprised of rural farmers have warned that a free trade deal with the United States would ruin the country's agriculture sector and endanger more than a million jobs.
South American leaders ended a two-day summit Saturday with an agreement to strengthen regional cooperation to better negotiate with the United States a free-trade zone for the hemisphere.
The Brazilian electoral scene changed dramatically Friday as a latecomer to the presidential race knocked leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva out of first place in the most recent poll.
Ecuador's president opened the second regional summit of South American leaders Friday, blasting the United States and other industrial nations for preaching free trade while practicing protectionism.