Uruguay

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 07:15 UTC

  Francis and Mujica full of praise for each other share 45 minutes in the Vatican

  

  “The Pope is very pleased for having met with a wise man”, was the official report from the Holy See following the 45 minute private audience of Francis with Uruguayan president Jose Mujica, the longest so far with a head of state. Although Mujica is a declared atheist and did not attend the inauguration of the first Latinamerican pope last March, he did request an interview with Francis, which took place on Saturday.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 05:30 UTC

  In four months Uruguay exports fell faster than imports: billion dollar deficit

  

  Uruguay’s trade deficit climbed to over a billion dollars in the first four months of the year compared to 975 million dollars in the same period a year ago. So far this year the fall in exports has been stronger than that of imports, which has led to the 1.045 billion dollars deficit according to the latest stats from the Central bank.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 05:17 UTC

  Uruguay ruling coalition warned about budget deficit and loss of labour productivity

  

  Uruguayan economic officials have warned the ruling coalition Broad Front about the regional risk-situation in complex Argentina and stalled Brazil, and its influence on Uruguay which needs to lower its budget deficit and improve labour productivity and competitiveness.

• Saturday, June 1st 2013 - 19:06 UTC

  Mercosur plan to delay summit and give time to Paraguay to return with full rights

  

  Paraguay is considering the announcement made by Uruguayan president Jose Mujica who suggested delaying the coming Mercosur summit in Montevideo scheduled for the end of June, ‘to wait and give time for Paraguay’ (currently suspended) to return to the block.

• Friday, May 31st 2013 - 19:05 UTC

  Tobacco is the deadliest global pandemic, says former Uruguayan president Vazquez

  

  Calling tobacco use the deadliest global pandemic ever, Uruguay’s former President Tabaré Vázquez urged decision makers to step up efforts to curb smoking in Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Thursday, May 30th 2013 - 00:10 UTC

  President Mujica to meet Pope Francis

  

  On Saturday June 1st the President of Uruguay, José Mujica, will meet Pope Francis. Mujica has been quoted as saying he does not believe in the Catholic Church but he “admires” it and that he hopes to open avenues of cooperation to advance on social issues in his country.

• Tuesday, May 28th 2013 - 22:05 UTC

  Uruguay’s Mujica: Integration with Asia is our “Strategy for the Future”

  

  On Tuesday Uruguayan President Jose Mujica said that the policy of integrating the economies of Asia and his country is a necessary “strategy for the future.”

• Tuesday, May 28th 2013 - 21:39 UTC

  Japanese oil company to explore Uruguayan offshore platform

  

  The Uruguayan offshore platform continues to advance its global positioning and increase its economic value as the Irish firm Tullow Oil, which is currently conducting exploration work in Block 15 of the Uruguayan offshore platform, sold 30% of its stake in its exploration contract to leading Japanese oil company Inpex.

• Tuesday, May 28th 2013 - 03:07 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil ‘fear’ a greater integration with China, says Mujica

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica currently in Beijing on an official visit, underlined the significance of China in trade and investments fro South America, but also admitted there is some ‘fear’ mainly from Argentina and Brazil about a greater integration and dependency from the Asian giant.

• Monday, May 27th 2013 - 02:54 UTC

  Brazil warns Uruguay on Pacific Alliance plans: Mercosur can only act as ‘a block’

  

  Mercosur must negotiate any possible incorporation to the Alliance of the Pacific “as a block” since it is important that its member countries remain ‘united’ and respect the current charter, said the Mercosur High Representative, Ambassador Ivan Ramalho from Brazil.