This Friday a new meeting of the National Commission of the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway was held, on which occasion the Paraguayan position against the collection of the toll by Argentina was reaffirmed.
We uphold our firmest conviction that Paraguay is claiming a fair right in the face of a serious violation of international treaties by the Argentine Republic“, he said at a press conference. National Chancellor Rubén Ramírez Lezcano.
He himself questioned that, despite the joint position by the countries that are part of the waterway (Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), Argentina continues with an intransigent position and has not provided a positive response to the claim.
Related note: Illegal toll: Argentina is maintained and Paraguay will analyze measures
At the same time, Raúl Valdez, president of the Center for River and Maritime Shipowners of Paraguay (CAFyM)He said that from his perspective the treatment of the matter is “merely political”. “Argentina has not been able to demonstrate in 9 months that there are justifications to justify the collection of a toll.”
Likewise, he reiterated that for the shipping union It is not a toll but a “tax on the passage of products and boats” as there is no service in consideration, for which reason they question the collection of the fee.
Also read: Director of Ports hopes not to reach arbitration to resolve tolls on the waterway
“We have agreed that we will maintain our firm position. We have conviction and grounds to refute any information of a technical nature that Argentina could presentValdez added.
The Foreign Minister announced that will arbitrate “all necessary legal means” to resolve this situation “as immediately as possible”.
