Venezuela

• Wednesday, August 17th 2016 - 04:56 UTC

  Uruguay ambassador summoned to Itamaraty after minister accuses Brazil of “bullying Mercosur presidency”

  

  Brazil summoned Uruguay's ambassador on Tuesday after the neighboring country's foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa accused Brazil of trying to “buy” its vote to block Venezuela from taking the rotating presidency of the Mercosur trade bloc.

• Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 07:17 UTC

  Mercosur on collision course: Uruguay rejects collective presidency sponsored by Brazil

  

  Uruguay's Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa said on Monday that he was opposed to the proposal that the Mercosur presidency should be held collectively, as a number of countries are opposed to Venezuela taking over the role. The proposal has been sponsored by Paraguay and Brazil for several weeks, particularly Brazil's Foreign Minister Jose Serra.

• Monday, August 15th 2016 - 12:21 UTC

  Mercosur Montevideo 23 August meeting to decide sanctions on Venezuela

  

  The coordinators of Mercosur founding members will decide next 23 August at a meeting in Montevideo on the legal measures to be applied on Venezuela, which self proclaimed itself the presidency of the group and is also questioned for not complying with the rules and regulations to be incorporated to the group. In that case Venezuela could lose its full member status.

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 16:40 UTC

  “Moment of truth” for Venezuela's standing in Mercosur

  

  Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay are waiting to see what happens on Friday, 12 August, when Venezuela has to prove that it has complied with all the pending requirements to confirm its Mercosur full membership condition dating back to 2012.

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 16:35 UTC

  Venezuela's attitude not helping to resolve the Mercosur situation, claims Uruguay

  

  “Venezuela is not helping much to resolve” the unprecedented situation of Mercosur, said Uruguay's foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa in reference to Venezuela's self proclaimed presidency of the group and which is rejected point blank by Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay who consider the post vacant.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2016 - 05:24 UTC

  Venezuela as Mercosur full member faces deadline: Friday 12 August

  

  Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina are waiting for a report on Venezuela´s compliance with the accords agreed in 2012, which has to delivered next Friday 12 August, and could lead the group of three counties deciding the suspension of Caracas as full member of Mercosur. A week and a half later, 23 August, representatives of these countries will be meeting to address the issue.

• Sunday, August 7th 2016 - 20:47 UTC

  Venezuela to be “demoted” from full Mercosur membership on 12 August

  

  Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil are considering the “demotion” of Venezuela's Mercosur full membership unless by next August 12 it complies with all conditions to hold such a position, according to the Brazilian media following a meeting of the three presidents in the sidelines of the opening of the Rio Olympic Games.

• Sunday, August 7th 2016 - 20:39 UTC

  Venezuela claims “the triple alliance” want to storm the Mercosur presidency

  

  Venezuela announced it will not allow Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, “the triple alliance” to storm the Mercosur pro tempore presidency, which the government of president Nicolas Maduro is fully exercising. Caracas also claimed that economic forces operating in the dark are interested in a Mercosur “implosion”.

• Friday, August 5th 2016 - 20:54 UTC

  Cuba admits Venezuelan recession is hitting hard: Chavist oil shipments down 20%

  

  Venezuela’s grim situation is impacting not only millions of households around the country: it is also sending panic waves across the Caribbean all the way to Cuba, a solid ally that for decades now has relied heavily on Chavismo’s generosity.

• Friday, August 5th 2016 - 19:50 UTC

  Mercosur founding members agree to disagree, but will hold another round of talks

  

  Mercosur founding members coordinators who met in Montevideo on Thursday to address the controversy over the presidency of the group and the self proclamation to the post by Venezuela, did finally reach some conclusions, but the most significant seems to be that they continue to disagree on the steps to follow and are prepared for another round of talks.