Discussions for the joint monitoring of the River Uruguay with Argentina are “not blocked” and “we have a very strong commitment with the on-going negotiations” said Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro following Monday morning’s ministerial cabinet meeting headed by President Jose Mujica.
Uruguay and Argentina agreed Wednesday on a 48 hours “reflection period” before retaking formal negotiations for the joint monitoring of the River Uruguay, which is at the heart of the pulp mills dispute, and alleged contamination, between the neighbouring countries.
“The ball is now on the Argentine court” said Uruguayan Vice-president Danilo Astori commenting on the country’s counterproposal for the monitoring plan to be jointly applied with Argentina to pulp mills, other industries and urban locations straddling the shared River Uruguay.
Argentina’s Foreign Affairs minister Héctor Timerman cautioned that the dispute with Uruguay over the Botnia/UPM pulp mill and its environmental impact can’t be seen as “a football match where one side wins and the other looses”, but rather as a situation where “the peoples of both countries benefit”.
Uruguay will reply next week Argentina’s proposal for the joint monitoring of the River Uruguay, said Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro after holding a three hours meeting with his visiting counterpart Hector Timerman.
Timerman’s portfolio to be strengthened by his special ties to Kirchners. Timerman brings rare gifts of strength of character and intellectual preeminence to his new job.
Brazil is willing to help Argentina and Uruguay with the joint monitoring of the River Uruguay which is at the heart of a pulp mill standing dispute between both countries. Argentina and Uruguay Foreign Affairs ministers are scheduled to meet Tuesday in Montevideo to address the issue.
Argentina’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman said that China expressed “strong support” for Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands and other South Atlantic islands, but was disappointed by the bias coverage of the Buenos Aires press.
Argentina’s newly appointed Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman begins next Tuesday a round of regional contacts which will take him to Uruguay, Brazil and Chile.
The United Nations Decolonisation Committee unanimously approved a resolution calling on Argentina and the United Kingdom to ensure the dialogue process and resume negotiations for a peaceful solution to the Falklands/Malvinas question.