Politics

• Friday, March 13th 2009 - 09:30 UTC

  Obama administration seeks new relation and dialogue with Latinamerica

  

  United States looks at the coming Americas Summit next April in Trinidad Tobago as an opportunity to begin a new relation with Latinamerica in a “spirit of equals” since the region will have to play a crucial role in the reply to the global economic crisis.

• Friday, March 13th 2009 - 06:33 UTC

  Polls show opposition ahead of Uruguay’s ruling coalition

  

  Uruguay’s main opposition party is closing in on the ruling coalition Broad Front according to the latest public opinion poll which means that next October there will be no clear winner of the presidential election and a run-off in November seems certain

• Friday, March 13th 2009 - 04:24 UTC

  Chile reshuffles cabinet ahead of electoral year

  

  Chilean president Michelle Bachelet on Thursday reshuffled her cabinet by naming new Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers as well as a new government spokesperson. This is the eighth reshuffle since taking office in 2006 and marks the beginning of a tough electoral and financial year.

• Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 16:09 UTC

  Bolivian president Morales chews coca leaf and calls for respect

  

  Bolivian president Evo Morales ate a coca leaf in front of delegates at the UN summit on drugs in Vienna on Wednesday, to underline his demand that the raw ingredient used to make cocaine be removed from the United Nation's list of prohibited drugs.

• Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 16:07 UTC

  Prince Charles and Lula da Silva talk about environment and football

  

  The Prince of Wales held talks with Brazilian President Lula da Silva ahead of a landmark speech by the royal on climate change. Charles met Lula da Silva in Brasilia and discussed a range of topics including the environment and sustainable development.

• Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 08:30 UTC

  Good prospects in Brazil for Venezuela’s admission to Mercosur

  

  The head of the Brazilian Senate and former president Jose Sarney said that the Mercosur incorporation of Venezuela will be “disturbing” for the trade block but admitted the Upper House would finally approve the admission protocols.

• Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 06:24 UTC

  Cristina Kirchner and PM Brown to hold bilateral meeting in Chile

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be holding a bilateral meeting next March 27th in Viña del Mar, Chile during the progressive leaders’ forum and most probably the Falklands/Malvinas claim issue will be on the table, according to reports in Buenos Aires daily La Nación.

• Wednesday, March 11th 2009 - 23:47 UTC

  Prince Charles underscores close links with Chilean navy

  

  The Prince of Wales returned to his Royal Navy roots on Tuesday when he visited a British frigate now in service with Chile. Charles, a former mine-sweeper commander, toured the frigate Almirante Condell with the Duchess of Cornwall during a trip to the Chilean city of Valparaiso.

• Wednesday, March 11th 2009 - 23:45 UTC

  South America calls on President Obama to end the Cuban embargo

  

  Twelve South American Defence ministers meeting in Santiago de Chile urged the United States on Tuesday to end the nearly half a century economic and travel embargo on Cuba.

• Wednesday, March 11th 2009 - 23:39 UTC

  Brazil/Uruguay summit agrees on free trade and energy integration

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva said that relations with neighbouring Uruguay are at “their best level ever”, following a meeting Tuesday with visiting president Tabare Vazquez.