The meeting in Havana was also attended by members of the delegation accompanying the Russian Minister in his Latin American tour that ended in Cuba, after visiting Venezuela and Nicaragua. 

Uruguay is losing precious time with Mercosur, and should try a one on one trade agreement with the European Union, according to Paul Riezler, president of the Euro-Chamber in Uruguay. 

Relations between Ecuador and Peru are better than ever, according to Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa, but tensions with Colombia are increasing, as trade between Ipiales and Tulcán has fallen by 90%. 

About 95% of the positions in the new phase of the “More Doctors” program ended up being filled by Brazilian professionals, according to Ministry of Health data. 

Bolivia will take its demand for sea access against Chile to the United Nations yet again, as tensions between the two nations mount. 

Critics say the use of force was disproportionate and resulted in abuses and unnecessary deaths. 

The U.S. State Department said that the United States “is not promoting social instability in Venezuela,” nor trying to undermine its economy. 

Cuban President Raúl Castro’s recent comments (that before full diplomatic relations can be established with the U.S. it must lift the trade embargo on the island, pay compensation for damages done to the country, and return the Guantánamo military base) should be “taken with a pinch of salt.” 

Given Brazilians’ sour mood of late, they had even more motivation than normal to party as Carnival celebrations officially kicked off in earnest. 

Chile’s National Consumer Service (Sernac), received nearly 12,500 complaints against companies in the tourism and transportation sectors in 2014.