Translated by Brian Schwarz
Originally published Wednesday, December 16, 2009, in “Diaro Frontera” of Merida, Venezuela (diariofrontera.com) under the heading Senado de Brasil aprobó ingreso de Venezuela al Mercosur
BRASILIA, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Senate yesterday narrowly approved Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur amidst strong concerns from the opposition regarding Hugo Chavez’s motives. The outcome was 35 votes in favor and 27 opposing.
Adding Brazil’s approval to those of Argentina and Uruguay just Paraguay’s vote remains.
Venezuela signed on to Mercosur in 2006 and its incorporation has already been ratified by Argentina and Uruguay, but final approval is still pending in Paraguay’s parliament, where the majority opposes [admission].
In the Brazilian parliament, approval was blocked for years after Chavez accused its senators in 2007 of being controlled by the United States.
“We don’t need to buy into the racket and the worn-out politics that this quasi-dictatorship, established by Colonel Hugo Chavez, will provoke in Mercosur, a Mercosur in the throes of death”, declared social democrat Arthur Virgilio, part of Brazil’s opposition.
“We do not accept that (Venezuela) enter without [agreeing to] the fundamental commercial and democratic obligations” required by Mercosur: “I speak to the conscience of every one of the senators, don’t let yourselves be pressured by the government to vote [affirmatively]”, opposition conservative senator Heráclito Fortes.
Communist ally of the government Inacio Arruda countered: “Democracy is consolidating more than ever in South America, and what we need to do is expand Mercosur, because the enlarged block plays a more important role in the international context.”
“We have to walk the path of regional integration. I cite as an example the European Union”, declared pro-government senator Aloizio Mercadante.
But even allies of the government were critical of Chavez’ administration: “I vote for the admission of Venezuela to Mercosur, because I vote for what is good for my country. I’m not going to vote because of Hugo Chavez. He is mortal, one day he will die,” said centrist senator Wellington Salgado.
“A very expressive minority said ‘no’ to the admission of Venezuela to Mercosur, and living ex-presidents of the Republic are against Venezuela being in Mercosur,” affirmed Senator Virgilio after casting his vote, referring to but not mentioning by name [former presidents] Senate President José Sarney and [senator] Fernando Collor, both allies of the government but critics of Chavez.
“We hope with patience and optimism that the final formal and legal element will be achieved so that Mercosur may have its fifth star” with the incorporation of Venezuela, Venezuelan foreign minister Nicolás Maduro said last week in Brasilia.
The admission of Venezuela will transform Mercosur into an economic block consisting of 250 million inhabitants, 76 percent of South America’s gross national product and 300 billion dollars [annually] in trade, according to congress’s data.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Hospital inaugurates Paraguay's first pediatric cancer reverse isolation ward
Translated by Brian Schwarz
Originally published Monday, December 14, 2009, in “Ultima Hora” (ultimahora.com) under the heading Inauguran primera sala estéril para niños con cancer
SAN LORENZO, PARAGUAY – The Acosta Ñu Pediatric Hospital of San Lorenzo inaugurated the country’s first pediatric cancer reverse isolation ward in a ceremony Monday that was attended by Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.
The ward, which will be in use starting in January, will help protect children from contracting potentially fatal infections while their immune systems are down due to ongoing chemotherapy treatments.
The isolation center will have four rooms, each equipped with an air filtration system, audiovisual alarm, and special antibacterial floors, windows and doors. The equipment was installed by experts from Argentina.
Brazilian hydroelectric company ITAIPU Binacional donated $110,000 for purchase of the specialized equipment, the Mitai Association of Fathers [of children with cancer], gave $15,000 for furnishings, and the Health Ministry gave $163,400 [figure converted from the Paraguayan guaraní currency] to cover the project’s construction costs.
Originally published Monday, December 14, 2009, in “Ultima Hora” (ultimahora.com) under the heading Inauguran primera sala estéril para niños con cancer
SAN LORENZO, PARAGUAY – The Acosta Ñu Pediatric Hospital of San Lorenzo inaugurated the country’s first pediatric cancer reverse isolation ward in a ceremony Monday that was attended by Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.
The ward, which will be in use starting in January, will help protect children from contracting potentially fatal infections while their immune systems are down due to ongoing chemotherapy treatments.
The isolation center will have four rooms, each equipped with an air filtration system, audiovisual alarm, and special antibacterial floors, windows and doors. The equipment was installed by experts from Argentina.
Brazilian hydroelectric company ITAIPU Binacional donated $110,000 for purchase of the specialized equipment, the Mitai Association of Fathers [of children with cancer], gave $15,000 for furnishings, and the Health Ministry gave $163,400 [figure converted from the Paraguayan guaraní currency] to cover the project’s construction costs.
Chile and Panama call for swift restoration of democracy in Honduras
Translated by Brian Schwarz
Originally published Tuesday, December 15, 2009 in " Panamá América" (pa-digital.com.pa) under the heading Chile y Panamá llaman a restaurar "al más breve plazo" democracia en Honduras
SANTIAGO, CHILE - Chile and Panama today called for the “quickest possible” restoration of democracy and rule of law in Honduras, promising to support steps taken by Organization of American States (OAS) in the Central American country.
Panamanian foreign secretary Juan Carlos Varela and his Chilean counterpart Mariano Fernández made the call in a joint resolution signed following political meetings held today in Santiago.
After the meeting, both appeared before the press and were asked about the differences of opinion Chile and Panama have expressed with regard to recognizing the November 29 elections, won by conservative Porfirio Lobo.
Panama is one of the few countries that have recognized the elections, while Chile maintains its rejection of [Ecuador’s] electoral process.
“There has been some discussion, because there have been new events in Honduras, and I believe that (both countries) now hold a very similar position,” Fernández said.
Meanwhile, Varela, who also serves as Panama’s vice president, figured that “the positions of both countries have been very close”.
"We all condemn the coup, but the Honduran political crisis is deeper than the military operation that took place,” stressed Varela, referring to the ouster of [then president] Manuel Zelaya on July 28.
“The November 29 elections have distanced the position of some countries, but we are all seeking reconciliation for the Honduran people and a return to democratic order,” Varela said, adding, “I feel we are all moving toward a point where we will soon accompany the Honduran people through their process of reconciliation”.
According to Varela, the de facto government must make conciliatory steps toward the removal of de facto leader Roberto Micheletti and give way to a transitional government in order to restore national unity and leave the crisis behind.
The message here is that coups must be condemned and that militaries can not interfere in the political affairs of the country”, Varela said. “And also democratically chosen governments must respect the political institutions of the country, because if not they create unnecessary circumstances.”
Originally published Tuesday, December 15, 2009 in " Panamá América" (pa-digital.com.pa) under the heading Chile y Panamá llaman a restaurar "al más breve plazo" democracia en Honduras
SANTIAGO, CHILE - Chile and Panama today called for the “quickest possible” restoration of democracy and rule of law in Honduras, promising to support steps taken by Organization of American States (OAS) in the Central American country.
Panamanian foreign secretary Juan Carlos Varela and his Chilean counterpart Mariano Fernández made the call in a joint resolution signed following political meetings held today in Santiago.
After the meeting, both appeared before the press and were asked about the differences of opinion Chile and Panama have expressed with regard to recognizing the November 29 elections, won by conservative Porfirio Lobo.
Panama is one of the few countries that have recognized the elections, while Chile maintains its rejection of [Ecuador’s] electoral process.
“There has been some discussion, because there have been new events in Honduras, and I believe that (both countries) now hold a very similar position,” Fernández said.
Meanwhile, Varela, who also serves as Panama’s vice president, figured that “the positions of both countries have been very close”.
"We all condemn the coup, but the Honduran political crisis is deeper than the military operation that took place,” stressed Varela, referring to the ouster of [then president] Manuel Zelaya on July 28.
“The November 29 elections have distanced the position of some countries, but we are all seeking reconciliation for the Honduran people and a return to democratic order,” Varela said, adding, “I feel we are all moving toward a point where we will soon accompany the Honduran people through their process of reconciliation”.
According to Varela, the de facto government must make conciliatory steps toward the removal of de facto leader Roberto Micheletti and give way to a transitional government in order to restore national unity and leave the crisis behind.
The message here is that coups must be condemned and that militaries can not interfere in the political affairs of the country”, Varela said. “And also democratically chosen governments must respect the political institutions of the country, because if not they create unnecessary circumstances.”
Union threatens to block nation's roads in protest of education funding gap
Translated by Brian Schwarz
Originally published Monday, December 14, 2009 in "La Hora" (lahora.com.gt) under the heading Magisterio anuncia bloqueos en todo el país en apoyo a la reforma fiscal by Luis Arevalo
GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA - In protest of a denied request for additional funds to bolster the Ministry of Education’s [Mineduc] budget, the agency’s workers' union has advised that tomorrow it will paralyze the country by blocking many of the nation’s roadways.
Spokesperson Joviel Acevdy said that unless congress approves at least 12 million Guatemalan quetzals [approx. $1.5 million] to shore up Mineduc’s budget, teachers would not finish out the 2010 school year and that blockages would continue until the funds are approved.
Acevedy said that government representatives had been warned of tomorrow’s anticipated actions and that their warnings were ignored. Now they are waiting for congress to arrive at a favorable agreement with them, and if not, he said, the union is prepared to continue its strike for several days.
The union has it may take other measures if a favorable agreement is not reached. These include include staging protests before congress that would continue until their demands are met.
[original continues]
Originally published Monday, December 14, 2009 in "La Hora" (lahora.com.gt) under the heading Magisterio anuncia bloqueos en todo el país en apoyo a la reforma fiscal by Luis Arevalo
GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA - In protest of a denied request for additional funds to bolster the Ministry of Education’s [Mineduc] budget, the agency’s workers' union has advised that tomorrow it will paralyze the country by blocking many of the nation’s roadways.
Spokesperson Joviel Acevdy said that unless congress approves at least 12 million Guatemalan quetzals [approx. $1.5 million] to shore up Mineduc’s budget, teachers would not finish out the 2010 school year and that blockages would continue until the funds are approved.
Acevedy said that government representatives had been warned of tomorrow’s anticipated actions and that their warnings were ignored. Now they are waiting for congress to arrive at a favorable agreement with them, and if not, he said, the union is prepared to continue its strike for several days.
The union has it may take other measures if a favorable agreement is not reached. These include include staging protests before congress that would continue until their demands are met.
[original continues]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)