Mercosur

• Monday, October 1st 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur Permanent Task Force

  Mercosur Interior and Justice Ministers meeting in Montevideo decided the creation of a Permanent Task Force, (GTP), to coordinate efforts against terrorism and to study initiatives to be included in the Regional Security Strategy.

• Monday, October 1st 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay confirms Mercosur

  “Let's not give the image that Mercosur is over and we're in a finalization process”, remarked Uruguayan Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Opertti this week following the increasing media exchange between Argentine and Brazilian delegates regarding the future of the block.

• Saturday, September 29th 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina “stronger” than Brazil

  United States risk assessment agency Standard & Poor', S & P, declared that Argentina “is in a far stronger situation than Brazil, mainly because of the implementation of the zero deficit budget policy”.

• Wednesday, September 26th 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  First 4+1 round

  Trade officials from Mercosur and United States pledged this week in Washington to build stronger trade ties to foster economic growth and development in the area, in the framework of the “four plus one” format.

• Wednesday, September 26th 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil redefine Mercosur

  Argentine and Brazilian officials will be meeting in the coming days to address the growing animosity between Mercosur's main partners, mostly consequence of diverging exchange rate policies with direct impact on bilateral trade.

• Tuesday, September 25th 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  Bomb trial in Buenos Aires

• Tuesday, September 25th 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  World Energy Congress

  The 18th. edition of the World Energy Congress, WEC, will be held next October in Buenos Aires, with the participation of at least 3,000 delegates, from the private and public sectors, including five Latinamerican presidents.

• Monday, September 24th 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  Recession threatens Brazil

  Brazil that since 1999 following the Russian financial crisis, had a spectacular comeback is now threatened by recession because of the constant depreciation of its currency and the US war drums.

• Monday, September 24th 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur, Free Trade Area

  Uruguayan former Economy Minister and international consultant, Alejandro Vegh Villegas suggested eliminating the Common External Tariff and turning Mercosur into “a free trade area” (instead of a customs union).

• Monday, September 24th 2001 - 21:00 UTC

  4 + 1 Discussions in Washington

  After several days preparations Mercosur and United States, 4+1 trade talks will officially begin this Monday in Washington. Foreign Affairs Ministers from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay will be meeting with US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick to agree on a common agenda for the coming months