Paraguayan government summons Argentine ambassador over dispute over river tolls
The Paraguayan government has summoned the Argentine ambassador, José Domingo Peppo, in response to a neighboring country’s decision to impose tolls on the Paraguay-Paraná waterway, resulting in the retention of vessels, as stated in an official communication from the Foreign Ministry.
According to the statement, the Argentine ambassador has pledged to pursue the necessary actions through his country’s Foreign Ministry.
“This request aims to lift the embargo on affected ships and ensure the freedom of navigation for Paraguayan-flagged vessels until the dispute over the interpretation and application of the Santa Cruz de la Sierra Agreement on Fluvial Transportation via the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway is resolved,” clarified the Paraguayan Ministry.
The matter is currently under examination by the Intergovernmental Committee of the Waterway, with its next meeting scheduled for late August.
In a statement issued on July 29, authorities reported that after eight months of consultations among the agreement signatories (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay), during a commission meeting, the delegations concluded that the imposition of tolls was not justified.
The text specifies that a complaint was lodged with Argentina, and the countries have repeatedly requested that Argentina suspend its unilateral decision and ensure free navigation.
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