Argentina to demand that pulp mill be moved

Madrid talks begin later this month

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Argentina is holding on to its demand that the pulp mill that is being built by the Finnish company Metsä Botnia in Fray Bentos, Uruguay, should be moved to another location.
      The plant, which is nearing completion, is located on the Uruguay River, which marks the border between Uruguay and Argentina, and has raised powerful opposition in Uruguay.
      Argentina's Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana says that Argentina plans to go to negotiations that are to be held in Spain later this month with an open mind. However, he also reiterated that his country is holding on to the position, according to which the Botnia plant violates the international treaty which governs the use of the Uruguay River.
     
In an interview with the newspaper Página 12 on Friday, Taiana said that he is not worried about Botnia's announcement last week that the pulp mill would start operations late this year.
      "That's what Botnia says, but to reach a solution to the dispute, the plant has to be located somewhere else", Foreign Minister Taiana said.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Argentina lashes out at Metsä-Botnia and Uruguay at UN Court (9.6.2006)
  Metsä-Botnia gives Argentine journalists tour of Finnish pulp industry (22.5.2006)
  Solution to paper factory dispute between Argentina and Uruguay more remote than ever (7.3.2007)
  King of Spain to mediate in Metsä-Botnia pulp mill dispute (6.11.2006)
  Argentine opponents of Botnia pulp mill bring case to Finland (30.8.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat