Bridges Over Troubled Water

  La Plata, Argentina -- A recent ruling by the ICJ (International Court of Justice) permitting the on-going blockade of bridges from Argentina to Uruguay by citizens and environmental groups has re-opened doors for negotiations between Buenos Aires and Montevideo.

     But whether the tensions between the “brotherly” countries will be eased remains to be seen.

     Having lost its appeal at The Hague in July to halt construction on the 1.2 billion dollar project for two plants, a Mercosur judgment condemning the roadblocks and the World Bank’s decision to lend Botnia 170 million to go ahead with construction, Argentines protesting the mills and their possible impacts on the riverine environment were surprised by this recent victory.  

     A substantive decision by the ICJ on whether or not Uruguay violated the 1975 Uruguayan River Treaty, an agreement signed between Uruguay and Argentina to discuss all economic development or other activities along the river, could take months to years.

     According to today’s Buenos Aires Herald, in a statement made yesterday by Abel Frutos, environment secretary of the pro-Argentine government CGT labor umbrella organization, relocation of the paper mills already under construction in Frey Bentos is the only way to end the dispute.

     The Herald also reports that Omar Viviani, leader of the taxi drivers union, a part of the CGT, said the demand was “fair.”

     IPS reports that Uruguayan Tourism Minister Héctor Lescano is open to any suggestions Spanish facilitator Juan Antonio Yáñez, sent by King Juan Carlos, may offer.  Lescano, however, adds that no serious negotiations will begin until the blockades of two of the three bridges connecting the nations stop.

     Grassroots movements from the residents of Gualeguaychú, the Argentine city located 25km from the paper mills, which make up the bulk of the protesters at the roadblocks, are in opposition to the plants because of possible damages to their tourism and fishing industries.

     Montevideo sees the mills as an excellent opportunity, bringing in thousands of jobs and potentially billions worth of investments to a faltering economy.  

     The two sides have, over the last year, maintained intractable positions regarding the safety and motivations behind building or not building the mills.  As a result, over the past year, relations between these friendly nations have soured.  

     “The advantage of the ruling is that it signals the end of the smoke screen set up by Uruguay as an excuse to refuse to dialogue and address the real problem”, Argentina’s Foreign Affaire minister Jorge Taiana was reported as saying in Mercopress. 

     Argentine President Kirchner recently said in a speech “We are not intransigent, we believe in constant ongoing conversation." 

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