Uruguay, Argentina agree to cooperate on river

[Judi Lynn]

Uruguay, Argentina agree to cooperate on river
By MICHAEL WARREN
The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 21, 2010; 1:58 AM

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Argentina and Uruguay both professed neighborly affection, if not brotherly love, after a U.N. court delivered a long-awaited ruling that rejects Argentina's claim that an Uruguayan pulp mill pollutes their shared river.

Both sides said Tuesday's decision by the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands gave them what they need to resolve their differences, with Argentina taking heart from a part of the ruling that said Uruguay did not properly inform it about the project.

The countries vowed to work through a binational commission to protect the Rio Uruguay.

A key hurdle remains, however, with no indication of how Argentine President Cristina Fernandez will overcome it: Argentine activists are still blocking the main bridge across the river and are refusing to give up their fight.

The verdict cannot be appealed, but the activists said they won't accept it - raising the possibility of a violent confrontation if Argentine police have to intervene.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/21/AR2010042100301.html