BOTNIA AND SPAIN'S ENCE. MANY HELD SIGNS THAT READ: "NO TO THE PAPER PLANTS, YES TO LIFE!" ON SUNDAY, SOME 100,000 ARGENTINES DEMONSTRATED AGAINST THE PROJECT NEAR GUALEGUAYCHU. URUGUAYAN OFFICIALS SAY THE MONTHS OF PROTESTS AND ROADBLOCKS HAVE COST ITS ECONOMY SOME $400 MILLION. KIRCHNER HAS ASKED THAT CONSTRUCTION BE HALTED TO ALLOW TIME FOR ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES TO BE CARRIED OUT. BUT URUGUAY'S GOVERNMENT SAYS THE PULP COMPANIES WILL USE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO AVOID POLLUTING. "THEY SAY THE IMPACT WILL BE MINIMAL BUT THEY WON'T GIVE US SUFFICIENT INFORMATION OR CARRY OUT STUDIES TO CLEAR UP THE QUESTION," KIRCHNER SAID. LAST MONTH, THE WORLD BANK'S PRIVATE SECTOR ARM DECIDED TO WITHHOLD APPROVAL OF ABOUT $400 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THE MILLS UNTIL IT COMPLETES STUDIES ON THE PROJECT'S SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
