The Paraguayan political system is willing to consider the incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur as a full member if there is a “significant gesture or compensation” from the government of President Hugo Chavez, according to congressional sources in Asunción.
Paraguay recovered full status of “country free of foot and mouth disease with vaccination” following the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) decision to lift the “high vigilance zone” over 1.2 million cattle.
The European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht will travel next week to Paraguay and Uruguay to reinforce bilateral relations and to advance on the ongoing EU/Mercosur negotiations to reach an overall trade and cooperation agreement.
Paraguay the only Mercosur member with no formal diplomatic relations with China-Beijing, --since it only recognizes Taiwan--, is scheduled to open a trade office in Hong Kong (Peoples Republic of China) some time in the next few weeks.
Colombia’s request to formally join Mercosur will be addressed during the group’s next summit to be held in Paraguay June 24th, revealed Paraguayan Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata.
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed Paraguay's recognition of a free and independent Palestinian state in the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.
Work at the hydro-electric complex Yacyreta will finalise at the end of next month, when the dam reaches 83 metres above sea level, as stipulated in its original design, executive director of the Bi-national Entity Yacyreta (EBY) Oscar Thomas informed
Over a million tourists (1.064.731) had visited until Christmas Argentina’s Iguazu Falls national park, a number which should reach 1.2 million when the 2010 calendar year is completed according to Iguazu Argentina that have the park’s concession.
Paraguayan senators reiterated that given certain conditions and political agreements they are prepared to vote for Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur as full member.
Conditions are ready to reach in the short term a trade agreement with the European Union, said Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo whose country, and for the next six months, holds the pro tempore chair of the South American block.