At the end, Rosario will take possession of the free zones of Bolivia and Paraguay.

After years of conflict, Argentina will resume Tuesday the free zones of Bolivia and Paraguay, both located in the area of ​​the central coast, in the area of ​​the Monument to the flag. Thus, Rosario will again have six hectares constituting a large balcony overlooking the river.

The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday at La Capital that this weekend the agreements signed with Bolivia and Paraguay for which the ports of the free zones of these countries have been sold expire.

It is about six hectares that extend approximately in the strip between the Club Nautico Rosario and Siberia (of UNR), and which will be recovered for the city.

The director of the Coordination of Binational Commissions related to the Silver Basin, employee of the Ministry of External Relations, Mariano Vergara, explained that after years of negotiations, "thanks to the efforts of the Argentine Chancellor, Jorge Faurie, Neighboring country governments have realized that these properties do not meet the objective of facilitation of river and port activities ".

He added that with this management, "strategic lands are being recovered for Rosario and that the free zones of Paraguay and Bolivia will be relocated in order to reactivate the commercial activity".

National Delegation

The official told this newspaper that "Saturday (for today) the agreement expires for which Bolivia had this free zone and Sunday (tomorrow) the agreement with Paraguay will expire". Thus, on Tuesday, a delegation from the Argentine Chancellery will accompany the provincial authorities to open the trellises and take possession of these two properties. In the meantime, the Chancellor is expected to complete an official act with the local authorities in the next few weeks, but the land will already be Santa Fe.

With regard to the relocation of free zones, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is studying properties likely to facilitate commercial activities and industrial exports.

Several possibilities are envisaged inside and outside Rosario, at Villa Constitución and even in the city of Santa Fe. "We want the new space to meet the needs of river transport and increase the volume. freight transported by Paraguay to the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway, "said Vergara.

For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that "these agreements reflect the excellent climate of constructive dialogue in which bilateral relations with Bolivia and Paraguay are developing, and aim not only to fully integrate these Mediterranean countries. to the Hidrovía system, which implies access to foreign markets by the Atlantic Ocean, but responds to an old desire of the Municipality of Rosario and the province of Santa Fe to find historical sites that are part of the monumental urban area and the port of all Santafesinos ".

In practice, these lands were inactive and completely abandoned. In addition, the river activity that has developed in the region was difficult because those who operate in the port of Rosario must surround these places, because they can not go there. "This will greatly facilitate the port's work," said the national manager.

The Foreign Minister said that "Faurie has echoed a request from the Municipality of Rosario and the province for decades, the Chancellor has worked hard and with the support of the national government to advance this issue".

Land reclamation is the first hit in the country, as part of the negotiations on rain and navigation.