A Court of Cassations (Appeals) prosecutor on Monday refused to take on the criminal complaint formulated by late AMIA special prosecutor Alberto Nisman, in which he accused Argentine President Cristina Fernández and other government officials of covering up the identities of those responsible for the deadly bombing at the Jewish community centre.
Argentine opposition parties came ahead in the regional primaries for governors held on Sunday in two important electoral districts, Santa Fe and Mendoza. Argentina is holding general elections next October but the law makes mandatory the open, simultaneous and mandatory primaries, PASO, which also help to give an idea of the electoral map and political feeling of public opinion.
Uruguay's president Tabare Vazquez announced that when he meets with Brazil's Dilma Rousseff next month, they will consider as a priority how to get the Mercosur-European Union talks for a trade agreement rolling again.
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez is leaving this week for an official visit to Russia and controversy over the agreements to be signed has erupted following the publication of a letter in a Sunday newspaper signed by a group of former Energy secretaries who claim the accords compromise Argentina with a foreign country in the execution of highly costly works, like it was done with China”.
Argentine inflation in March reached 2.12% over February accumulating 29.8% in the last twelve months according to the average of private consultants, which every month is released by opposition members in Congress. This is one percentage point higher than the official March rate announced by the Argentine government's discredited stats office, Indec, 1.3%.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has accused Argentina of bullying after it announced on Friday in London that it was starting legal action against companies drilling for oil and gas near the Falkland Islands.
Argentina's Secretary of State for Malvinas Affairs, Daniel Filmus, defended Argentina´s sovereignty rights over the Falkland Islands in a speech he delivered in London condemning UK´s recent decision to increase its military presence in the South Atlantic, outlined the scope of the criminal lawsuit against oil companies 'illegally' operating in Falklands/Malvinas waters and warned of the environmental risks these activities entail.
The Argentine government continues disrespectfully to ignore “our inalienable right to determine our own future” and “develop our economy”, said the elected government of the Falkland Islands in a release responding to Argentine determination to impede the Islands right to develop the hydrocarbons industry and claims about 'militarization' of the South Atlantic.
Mercosur must exhaust efforts with determination to advance in trade negotiations with the European Union, said Uruguay's Deputy foreign minister Jose Luis Cancela confirming the country's commitment with the block, but also demanding 'sincerity' in addressing the challenges and agreeing on an international insertion strategy.
Brazil's minister of defense Jacques Wagner questioned Argentina's approach to China regarding military procurement, but discarded any conflict with Buenos Aires, since the country is a 'strategic and important partner' of Brazil. Apparently the issue was brought up by Jacques when he visited his counterpart Agustín Rossi in Buenos Aires last week.