MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

America's summit: “Jobs creation”, the heart of the matter

Argentina admitted Tuesday having differences with the United States regarding the Americas Summit scheduled for next November in Mar del Plata but these are concentrated in “the drafting of the final document and security”.

However Foreign Affairs minister Rafael Bielsa said the summit was not at risk but "we're discussing the essence of the meeting". "We're working closely with US experts in security, so that's not a problem" said the Argentine official, it's rather the implementation of the motive for the summit, "creating jobs to combat poverty and promote governance".

Mr. Bielsa described the discrepancy discussion as "technical and rich" because the US believes free markets, investments, fighting corruption and making the labour market more flexible creates jobs, and "we think greater aid and assistance is needed".

Argentine Ambassador in Washington Jose Octavio Bordon and President Kirchner's cabinet chief Alberto Fernandez denied any "US concern in security matters or requests". On the contrary "we're working closely with them at Foreign Affairs and Interior ministries levels", revealed Mr. Fernandez.

Rumours of the controversy surfaced once again on the day when Deputy Foreign Affairs Secretary Jorge Taiana officially delivered to the Americas Ambassadors, President Kirchner's personal invitation for the two days Mar del Plata summit on November 4/5.

According to US diplomatic sources in the Argentine press, White House advisors insist the summit's agenda must keep to its specific issue and avoid a repeat of the Monterrey summit in Mexico, January 2004, when Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez broke diplomatic procedure at least on three occasions.

One to praise Fidel Castro, sitting next to US President George Bush; another to recall the "outstanding performance" of former Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso in front of Brazilian president Lula da Silva and finally commending former Ecuadorian president Jamil Mahuad who was ousted by president Lucio Gutierrez present at the summit.

US officials fear that discussions on how to create jobs to combat poverty and promote governance could lead to a big, open dispute on social exclusion eradication and strengthening democratic institutions.

US State Under Secretary for Latinamerica Roger Noriega has repeatedly said that fighting corruption together with judiciary security to attract investments and fuel the economy are essential for job creation.

A "concerted effort" from the region with "consistent economic policies, hemispheric security, free trade, democratic governments, attractive regimes for investments and official efforts committed to creating a globally competitive labour force with abundant investment in human resources", is the official US line.

However Argentina favours a more ample statement, which goes beyond the document to be signed "with all presidents agreeing that employment, creating jobs is the highest priority for Latinamerica as the main tool to overcome poverty", according to Rodolfo Gil, Argentine Ambassador before the Organization of American States.