Paraguayan opposition and media strongly criticized Brazilian president Lula da Silva’s for not keeping his Itaipú dam-controversy promises and allegedly for conditioning further assistance to the approval by the Paraguayan congress of Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur.
President Lula da Silva reassured Paraguay that Brazil will build the promised 500 kW power transmission line from the Itaipú dam to the capital Asunción, as well as a bridge over the Paraná River shared by both countries.
Paraguay’s president Fernando Lugo said he is looking forward to the coming meeting next May 3 with his Brazilian counterpart Lula da Silva because he would be coming back with “good news” referred to the shared power from Itaipu, the world’s second largest hydroelectric dam belonging to both countries.
Paraguay has passed a bill imposing a temporary suspension of constitutional rights in five northern and central provinces of the country in a crackdown on violence by a self proclaimed insurgent group, the Paraguayan People’s Army, EPP.
Mercosur member Paraguay is reconsidering the terms of its relation with Taiwan, “retaining diplomatic links” but at the same time establishing “formal economic relations with Beijing”, said the country’s Foreign Affairs minister Héctor Lacognata.
Paraguay announced a record 2009/2010 soybeans crop of 7.48 million tons, which is larger that the 6.8 million tons of 2007/08.
Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Friday Egypt had lifted the ban on Paraguayan beef exports which was imposed last December.
Rio Tinto Alcan, a unit of global mining giant Rio Tinto formally presented on Monday plans to invest 2.5 billion US dollars in an aluminium smelter in Paraguay, according to corporation and Asuncion sources.
China has proposed to Paraguay a gradual process of rapprochement with special emphasis in trade and cultural fields at a first stage, revealed Paraguay’s Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata.
Chile, Russia, Vietnam and Israel were the main clients for Paraguayan beef and meat products during the month of January totalling 54.8 million US dollars, up 85% over the same month a year ago according to the latest data from the Livestock Health and Quality Service, Senacsa.