
Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Pedro Vaz confirmed Friday that the embassy in Buenos Aires suffered several attacks, burglaries and threats during the last five year period and did not discard it could possibly be linked to the dispute with Argentina over the construction of a pulp mill on a shared border river.

The Argentine government accepted on Wednesday the resignation of its ambassador in Uruguay, Hernan Patiño Meyer who has been involved in a political controversy following comments praising Uruguayan president-elect Jose Mujica.

Uruguayan exports dropped 8.71% and imports 17.62% during 2009 in line with the overall global contraction. Only five of Uruguay’s main trade partners received more exports and only five of the country’s main export products showed an increase in US dollar value sales.

China thanked Uruguay for its staunch and sustained support in crucial issues such as the one-China policy and Tibet. Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Uruguay’s Lower House president Roque Arregui, currently visiting China, met earlier this week in Beijing.

Argentina is a nation that prides itself on having more cattle than people but because of erred policies may soon be forced to import beef to keep its meat-loving citizens happy at the dinner table.

Uruguay’s peso achieved a record annual gain as neighboring Brazil’s economic recovery fueled demand for the country’s exports. The peso has jumped 25% this year, (9.4% in the last quarter) its biggest annual advance since the government created it in 1993 to replace the nuevo peso as part of an effort to stem surging inflation.

The Uruguayan government begun Tuesday the formal transition process during a ceremony attended by President Tabare Vazquez, president elect Jose Mujica and most of the cabinet of the administration that will be officially inaugurated next March first.

The Uruguayan doctor who ten years ago played a crucial role in saving the life of Argentine football star Diego Maradona, collapsed under the effects of an overdose of cocaine, revealed details of the emergency evacuation of that day, a day he will never forget.

Uruguayan organic beef directly from the country’s natural pastures will be available at a restaurant catered by Uruguayans at the Shanghai World Expo next year.

Spanish bank BBVA anticipates a strong recovery of the Uruguayan economy next year with one of the highest growth rates in the region and discards “any turbulences or surprises with the new government, it’s going to be continuation of current policies”.