Regarding the incident at the Apipé Grande Island on 13 October, where a regional fishing competition was taking place and the intervention of the Paraguayan Coast Guard forced its suspension, the Argentine Foreign Ministry took a number of measures through several channels.
On 13 October, the Undersecretary for Affairs of the Americas, Leopoldo Sahores, expressed the concern over this situation to the Paraguayan Ambassador to Argentina, Julio Cesar Vera Cáceres. Yesterday, Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie -while taking part in the Mercosur Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Montevideo- discussed the incident with his Paraguayan counterpart, Luis A. Castiglioni.
Furthermore, the Argentine Ambassador in Asunción, Héctor Lostri, analyzed the situation and possible solutions with the Admiral of the Paraguayan Navy since the Apipé Grande Island, located south of Yacyretá Dam in the Paraná River, is surrounded by Paraguayan territorial waters, resulting in an island enclave.
Argentina is working to reach an understanding with Paraguay for the development of recreational activities in waters surrounding the Island, while ensuring the protection of fauna and the environment. This incident will be further discussed with Paraguay at the "Convention on Conservation and Development of Fishery Resources in the Border Sections of the Paraná and Paraguay Rivers" meeting to be held in the upcoming weeks.
Press Release No. 415/18