Uruguay government reiterates support for Metsä-Botnia

The government of Uruguay reiterated its support for the pulp mills being built on the banks of the Uruguay River Finnish company Metsä-Botnia nd the Spanish company Ence. The declaration was made at a televised political event in the capital Montevideo.
      The event, presided over by President Tabaré Vázquez, brought together leaders of all of Uruguay's political parties, trade unions, and the business community. The government insisted that all necessary studies on the environmental impact of the pulp mills had been made.
      Uruguay also reiterated that it had given enough information about the pulp mills to neighbouring Argentina, which opposes the project, fearing negative environmental consequences.
     
Speaking at Monday night's event were representatives of the previous, and present governments, which gave the green light for the pulp mill project, including former President Jorge Battle President Tabaré Vázquez did not give a speech at the event.
      Officially the event was a session of the Uruguayan government for the purpose of giving information about the pulp mill. However, in practice, the event turned into a response to a demonstration organised by the Argentine government in nearby Guayaleguaychu.
      Monday's event was originally supposed to take place in Fray Bentos, but it was moved to the capital Montevideo for safety reasons.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Metsä-Botnia gives Argentine journalists tour of Finnish pulp industry (22.5.2006)
  Argentine environmentalists stage protest at Finnish Embassy in Buenos Aires (18.5.2006)
  No solution to pulp mill dispute at EU-Latin America summit (15.5.2006)
  Argentina to bring pulp mill dispute before Hague court (5.5.2006)
  European Union backs Metsä-Botnia in pulp mill dispute with Argentina (21.4.2006)