The Organization of American States Secretary General José Miguel Insulza begins Monday a two day visit to Uruguay for the formal presentation of the “Report on the Drug Problem in the Americas” which has the support of several Latinamerican countries and former leaders of the region who have proposed a completely new approach to the drugs challenge.
Uruguay is not expensive, ‘it has become extremely expensive” with construction costs that are double those of Argentina, claimed Eduardo Constantini, an Argentine business man with strong investments in Uruguay, the latest of which building 500 summer houses along the eastern coast.
Paraguayan president elect Horacio Cartes confirmed that his government will insist in its position regarding Mercosur, which expects Paraguay to return as full active member following the inauguration ceremony 15 August.
The French oil and gas company Total confirmed that at the beginning of 2015 it will spud its first exploratory well in deep waters of the Uruguayan continental shelf, according to Juan Gomez, one of directors from the country’s fuel company Ancap.
Uruguay needs a quick resumption of Mercosur/European Union trade and cooperation talks because at the end of the year expire a number of tariff benefits for Uruguayan exports, revealed Foreign minister Luis Almagro.
Paraguay will hold the rotating chair of Mercosur after Venezuela, at the end of this year, which will mark the full active comeback of the country to the regional block, announced Uruguay’s Foreign minister Luis Almagro on Monday in Montevideo.
Brazilian international affairs advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia admits the incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur was done without Paraguay’s approval and argues the downfall of Fernando Lugo was because of his political incapacity to follow on the steps of other countries with strong popular support such as Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador
Uruguay filed a shelf registration with the US Securities and Exchange committee to sell up to 5 billion in US denominated securities. Economy minister Fernando Lorenzo said the filing will allow the government to issue debt when it is convenient for the country and market conditions are favourable.
Mercosur leaders agreed on Friday to call home for consultation their ambassadors to Spain, France, Italy and Portugal to protest last week's forced diversion of the Bolivian president's aircraft. They also strongly defended their right to offer asylum Friday, venting anger at claims of US spying in the region while intelligence leaker Edward Snowden's fate hangs in the balance.
“Mercosur has closed its doors to Paraguay and it’s not good for Latinamerican integration”, was the first reaction from Asuncion after the group announced the presidency for Venezuela and lifting the suspension of Paraguay next 15 August.