Uruguay's former Foreign minister Luis Almagro was elected on Wednesday by the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) as Secretary General for the next five years, during the XLIX Special General Assembly held at the OAS headquarters in Washington DC.
Uruguay's Economy minister Danilo Astori warned about the new regional and international context, not so favorable to his country's interests as in recent years, and underlined that Mercosur is going through one of its worst moments since foundation in 1991.
Fresh from an incident with Venezuela which delayed and displaced a Unasur meeting, the Uruguayan government is looking for closer relations with the conservative administration of Paraguay, putting the emphasis on regional integration but also in making Mercosur a more open and dynamic trade and cooperation block.
The Uruguayan economy is decelerating gradually after a decade of strong and inclusive growth. Export receipts are growing at a markedly lower clip than a few years ago and domestic demand growth is slowing towards a more sustainable pace. At the same time, inflation remains above the target range and the primary fiscal balance has weakened further in 2014.
Tabare Vazquez was sworn in as president of Uruguay Sunday, returning to office a decade after first leading the centre left catch-all coalition to power and drawing a curtain on folksy farmer Jose Mujica's colorful rule. Vazquez, a cancer doctor with a more buttoned-down style than the outspoken Mujica, won 53.6% of the vote in a November 30 presidential run-off, reclaiming the office he previously held from 2005 to 2010.
President Nicolas Maduro said his government had captured American citizens involved in espionage activities, and said US citizens in the future will have to seek visas to come to Venezuela. Speaking during a rally, he said his government will prohibit some US officials from entering Venezuela in retaliation for a similar measure by the government of President Barack Obama against a group of Venezuelan public officials.
Argentina's Secretary General to the Presidency Anibal Fernández hit back to ex president of Uruguay Jorge Batlle who on Wednesday said Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez “hopes to be sacked from the government.”
Former Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle said that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez “wants to be kicked out of government”, replicating Argentine opposition comments.
British ambassadors in Chile, Brazil and Uruguay, Fiona Clouder, Alex W Ellis and Ben Lyster-Binns, respectively visited the Falkland Islands on a familiarization tour and to try to establish closer links with the Islands.
Argentina's Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich on Monday responded to Uruguay’s President José “Pepe” Mujica, who accused Argentina of “forgetting about integration” when things go right for the country, saying the statement was “unfair” given Argentina’s role in the “foundation” of regional integration.