Paraguay

• Thursday, October 18th 2012 - 07:29 UTC

  Mercosur conflict still alive: Venezuela expels Paraguayan diplomats

  

  Venezuela's government decided to expel Paraguay's remaining diplomats from the country, the top envoy at the Paraguayan Embassy said on Wednesday. Charge d'affaires Victor Casartelli said that he and three other Paraguayan diplomats in Caracas were told by Venezuela's Foreign Ministry to leave within three days.

• Wednesday, October 17th 2012 - 05:13 UTC

  Paraguay begins drilling for oil in the Chaco next December

  

  Paraguay will begin exploring for hydrocarbons in the Chaco region, heartland of South America next 8 December, said oil consultant Mario Garnero after meeting on Tuesday with President Federico Franco.

• Tuesday, October 16th 2012 - 07:42 UTC

  Paraguay confident it can recover the Chilean beef market as it has with Russia

  

  Paraguay expects a significant upsurge in beef sales this year, despite the reported outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, because of the strong demand from Russia, according to local analysts.

• Monday, October 15th 2012 - 07:58 UTC

  Minister confirms talks for re-incorporation of Paraguay to Unasur and Mercosur

  

  Foreign minister Jose Felix Fernandez Estigarribia confirmed the beginning of negotiations for the re-incorporation of Paraguay to Unasur and Mercosur which will take place through the mediation of a Latinamerican country he did not identify.

• Friday, October 12th 2012 - 16:05 UTC

  Paraguayan Senate rejects Unasur document used as basis to sanction the country

  

  By an overwhelming majority, 36 to 1 and eight absences, the Paraguayan Senate rejected the Unasur Commitment with Democracy Additional Protocol considering it contrary to the sovereign interests of the country and which was the argument used by the regional organization to sanction and suspend Paraguay.

• Friday, October 12th 2012 - 15:56 UTC

  Low key talks with some Unasur members to lift sanctions on Paraguay

  

  Paraguay is involved in low key negotiations with the region to find a way for the quick return of the country to Unasur and Mercosur, and Chile and Colombia are playing crucial roles in such discussions, according to media reports from Asuncion.

• Wednesday, October 10th 2012 - 09:47 UTC

  Paraguay ratifies it rejects point blank Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur

  

  President Federico Franco ratified on Monday before the Diplomatic Corps that Paraguay rejects point blank the incorporation of Venezuela as full member of Mercosur and also considers the country was unfairly treated by the block.

• Tuesday, October 9th 2012 - 01:38 UTC

  Paraguay Senate plans to reject instruments used by Mercosur to sanction the country

  

  The Paraguayan Senate will be addressing on Thursday the Ushuaia II Protocol and the Unasur Additional Protocol on democratic commitment, both instruments used by Mercosur and Unasur last June to have Paraguay suspended from the two organizations.

• Monday, October 8th 2012 - 20:43 UTC

  Paraguay expects 9.5% expansion next year propped by a ‘super soybean crop’

  

  Paraguay’s economy is forecasted to contract 1.5% in 2012 but in 2013 will soar 9.5% based on a “super soybean crop” and the recovery of other sectors, according to the latest report from the country’s Central bank confirming its previous 2012 GDP estimate.

• Monday, October 8th 2012 - 06:34 UTC

  Paraguay expects to be back in Mercosur “sooner than later”: before April 2013

  

  President Federio Franco said he trusted Paraguay would be fully re-incorporated to Mercosur before the general election scheduled for 21 April 2013. Paraguay is currently suspended from the trade block following the removal of Fernando Lugo as president, a decision voted almost unanimously by the country’s Senate but condemned by Mercosur and Unasur.