Argentina, Chile and Uruguay in a joint statement released on Friday, called for political dialogue in Venezuela and offered to help with a national reunion of the political and social forces of the country. The appeal, with utmost respect for the principle of non interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela, was made extensive to the government, the National Assembly, under opposition control, and all political and social groups.
Victims of a secretive German colony in Chile hope that Germany's decision to declassify documents will help shine light on human rights abuses committed there. For three decades beginning in 1961, the enclave of Colonia Dignidad, or Dignity Colony, was the site of torture, slavery and child abuse.
A strong controversy is expected following statements from Chilean officials who downplayed the significance of the recent UN continental shelf maritime extension referred to Argentina and which included the Falklands, South Atlantic Islands and Antarctica territory.
Punta Arenas daily La Prensa Austral points out that a 'controversy is brewing' following the recent 'new map of Argentina' presented by foreign minister Susana Malcorra expanding the outer limit of the country's continental platform according to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, CLCS.
Chile will insist at the two-day Pacific Alliance summit which took off on Wednesday in Paracas, Peru, that a convergence with Mercosur is needed to ensure the integration of Latina America, and this is more evident now that both groupings face similar challenges such as falling prices for commodities, normalization of US monetary policy and an international context of slow growth.
The Chilean government has renewed its 'explicit' support for Argentina's sovereignty claims over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, according to Daniel Filmus, the Argentine official head of the special department for affairs relative to the Malvinas Islands, who is currently in a political tour in Santiago.
Peru said it was withdrawing its ambassador from Chile, amid an intensifying diplomatic spat that was sparked by accusations of military espionage. The Peruvian government is prosecuting two non-commissioned officers in its navy and investigating a third for allegedly spying for neighboring Chile.
Argentina and Chile signed on Tuesday in Santiago the creation of a bi-national entity responsible for the Las Leñas Pass tunnel project (Ebileñas) to be drilled in the Andes connecting the two countries.
Hector Timmerman, Heraldo Muñoz outline new phase in binational relationships. Transandean Train, Agua Negra and Las Leñas Paths to bring on significant progress.
Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance explored this week in Chile the possibilities of a gradual, and flexible, integration but left aside all possibility of a near future agreement on tariffs.