Paraguay

• Thursday, November 12th 2009 - 06:26 UTC

  Paraguay “assessing” its support for Venezuela’s Mercosur admission

  

  Paraguayan Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata described as extremely worrying the escalating “bellicose speech” of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and admitted Paraguay could review its stand in support of that country’s Mercosur admission “if he persists in calling to prepare for war”.

• Tuesday, November 10th 2009 - 07:54 UTC

  Lula da Silva: “I preferred to give Paraguay a chance to develop”

  

  A country with the size of Brazil can’t fight with Paraguay, said Brazilian president Lula da Silva justifying the Itaipu hydroelectric energy agreement signed last July with his Paraguayan counterpart Fernando Lugo in Asuncion.
  He added, “I preferred to give a country like Paraguay the chance to develop”.

• Saturday, November 7th 2009 - 16:30 UTC

  In spite of coup denials Paraguayan president continues with military purge

  

  Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo continued to purge the top ranks of the military Friday, removing the armed forces' commander. Lugo fired the commanders of the country's army, air force and navy on Wednesday.

• Friday, November 6th 2009 - 04:12 UTC

  Brazilian Senate postpones vote on Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation

  

  In related news the Brazilian Senate postponed for a week a full house vote on the incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur which is pending since March 2007 when the administration of President Lula da Silva sent the request.

• Friday, November 6th 2009 - 03:41 UTC

  Paraguay’s president ends coup rumours replacing military commanders

  

  Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo put an end Wednesday to rumors circulating the capital Asuncion about a possible coup by replacing all top military commanders. The announcement came from the armed forces themselves, not the president's office.

• Friday, October 30th 2009 - 03:17 UTC

  China offering to invest and create jobs in Taiwan friendly Paraguay

  

  A delegation of Chinese private businessmen met this week with Paraguay’s president Fernando Lugo with the purpose of expressing their interest in investing in the country, more precisely in the manufacture of cellular phones, batteries and battery chargers.

• Saturday, October 24th 2009 - 07:19 UTC

  Paraguayan congress approves Itaipú treaty with Brazil

  

  The Paraguayan Senate approved by an ample majority the agreement with Brazil which represents a higher financial compensation for Paraguay from Itaipú, the world’s largest operational hydroelectric dam, a long standing claim which was addressed in several summits between presidents Lula da Silva and Fernando Lugo.

• Friday, October 9th 2009 - 10:04 UTC

  Paraguayan president says he “does not want or wish” his re-election

  

  “I don’t want nor do I wish my re-election” said Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo on Thursday. However he did admit he favoured the review of some of the Constitution’s articles.

• Saturday, September 26th 2009 - 06:25 UTC

  Paraguayan economy contracts for second quarter running

  

  Mercosur junior member Paraguay’s economy again plunged in the second quarter of this year, 4.3%, compared to a year ago, almost the same percentage contraction as in the first quarter, 4.2%, according to the latest release from the country’s Central Bank.

• Saturday, September 12th 2009 - 11:51 UTC

  Paraguayan farmers anticipate record soy crop for this season: 7 million tons

  

  Paraguayan soy bean farmers estimate that this year’s crop (2009/2010), which begins to be planted at the end of the month, could reach a new record close to seven million tons given the good climate prospects and producers enthusiasm.