A U.S. Embassy delegation headed by Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon and A/Deputy Chief of Mission Linda Gonzalez visited the city of Minas situated in the department of Lavalleja, approximately 80 miles northeast of Montevideo.

Governor Herman Vergara welcomed the delegation with a visit to the Salus bottling plant, one of the major mineral water, soft drink, and beer companies in Uruguay. Industrial manager Alejandro Scapellato guided the delegation through the water bottling plant where there is a small fountain in the shape of a puma, spouting water into a pool. Behind it there is a cave where one can see the actual stream of mineral water. Local legend says that it is the water that gave the puma its courage and strength.

Following the tour, Governor Vergara and Chargé Nealon proceeded to hold a press conference for the local media in Minas. Nealon stated that one of his top priorities is to visit Uruguay's interior and meet with governors to discuss matters of common interest and to learn about the issues concerning the various regions. "Uruguay is not Montevideo and Montevideo is not Uruguay" Nealon told reporters. [Video ]

Governor Vergara and other Lavalleja officials accompanied CDA Nealon to visit the binational center Alianza (BNC) in Minas, where they were received by a large number of students and their teachers. The Minas BNC was inaugurated in 1969 and now has over 200 students learning basic and intermediate American English. Academic director Bibian Espinosa and Administrative director Julio Barreiro welcomed the delegation, and the students talked with Nealon about the differences and similarities between Uruguayan and American cultures.

  PHOTO GALLERY

>Click to enlarge photo  U.S. Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon, right, with Lavalleja Governor Herman Vergara and columnist Ruben Loza, left, drinking natural mineral water from the Salus fountain "Del Puma" in Minas during a U.S. Embassy delegation visit to Lavalleja, December 12, 2005.

>Click to enlarge photo  Salus plant manager Alejandro Scapellato, right, speaks with U.S. Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon during a tour of the company's mineral water bottling plant, December 12, 2005. Accompaning Nealon is Lavalleja Governor Hernan Vergara and other officials.

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U.S. Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon and Lavalleja Governor Hernan Vergara during press conference in Minas, December 12, 2005.

>Click to enlarge photo  U.S. Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon, Lavalleja Governor Hernan Vergara, and A/Deputy Chief of Mission Linda Gonzalez exchange gifts during U.S. Embassy delegation visit to the city of Minas.

>Click to enlarge photo  U.S. Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon, left, and Lavalleja Governor Hernan Vergara, right, meet to discuss matters of common interest during U.S. Embassy delegation visit to the city of Minas.

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Students and teachers welcome U.S. Embassy delegation and Lavalleja officials to the binational center Alianza in Minas, December 12, 2005.

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U.S. Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon and Lavalleja Governor Hernan Vergara, accompanied by their respective delegations, visit the museum "Casa de la Cultura" in Minas, December 12, 2005.

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U.S. Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon and Lavalleja Governor Hernan Vergara visit a historic coins collection exhibit in Minas, December 12, 2005. The exhibit is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy Montevideo.

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