MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

CFK Malvinas presentation before C24 divides Argentine opposition

Plenty of seats left in Tango 01; many fear a picture next to the Lady

President Cristina Fernandez has yet to fulfil her wish to have the whole Argentine opposition represented next to her when she addresses the UN Decolonization Committee claiming sovereignty over the disputed Falklands/Malvinas Islands next week.

According to Buenos Aires media reports from Congressional sources the invitation to travel to New York with the president was extended to the heads of all the political groups in the Legislative but the opposition is divided.

Lawmakers representing the Conservative Mayor of Buenos Aires City Mauricio Macri have declined the invitation but just in case sent a letter to the C24 expressing their most absolute full support for Argentina’s claim over the Malvinas and other South Atlantic issues.

The PRO group that responds to Mayor Macri said in a letter they decided to say no because “it is necessary that both sides (National Government and City Government) respect each other”.

The central government and the City of Buenos Aires are embroiled in a frustrating dispute over the city’s transport system (buses and subway) which Cristina Fernandez insists on handing over to Mayor Macri who said he is pleased to receive, but including the generous subsidies, “if not thank you so much”.

Likewise with the transfer to the city of law enforcement and justice responsibilities (and the funds to finance them) plus a conflict with the province of Buenos Aires on garbage disposal that threatens to close the dump and demands either a high toll or “move out”.

The bottom line is that conservative Macri looks as the most promising candidate for the presidential elections of 2015, and eroding his image is part of the game for the ‘K’ team.

Meanwhile the leading opposition party, Radicales is still holding discussions on the impact of some of them in a triumphant picture standing next with President Cristina Fernandez to which they could be held hostages in the future. Apparently the only Radical lawmaker travelling will be a member of the Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee.

A Socialist Senator is conditioning his trip to a one day advance of the hearings on the government candidate for Attorney General, who is rejected by most of the opposition because he lacks the “sufficient credentials and knowledge” for such a post. Apparently the ‘nay’ Socialist vote will be taken on the day the plane leaves for New York. If that is the case he’s not joining the party.

Dissidents from the ruling Peronist movement coalition have yet to decide and are also doubtful about the group’s photo and the fact the whole act in New York does not turn into a typical “K show”.

So far seats confirmed in the Boeing 757 Tango 01 are for two faithful Senators, Daniel Filmus and Miguel Pichetto and two other faithful from the Lower House Guillermo Carmona and Agustín Rossi. The Number One will also carry a group of Malvinas veterans specially invited for the presentation, since it is the 30th anniversary of the Malvinas war.

The invitation to travel to the C24 meeting was also extended to all provincial governors and in New York to all Latin American ambassadors before the UN. No final list with the pax names.

According to Argentine Foreign Affairs sources Cristina Fernandez will insist before C24 in denouncing the British “militarization” of the South Atlantic and will show the vast international support for negotiations on the Falklands/Malvinas issue to take off, the latest of which from this week’s OAS general assembly in Bolivia, even when Canada and the US abstained from supporting the Malvinas resolution.

The C24 meeting will take place June 14 beginning 10:00 in the morning until 13:30. Cristina Fernandez will present Argentina’s case for sovereignty over the Malvinas and other South Atlantic Islands and two members form the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, Mike Summers and Roger Edwards will insist on the UN principle of self determination for the Falklands’ people.

The Argentine president the following day is scheduled to have lunch with CEO from thirty leading US corporations, and will then remain in her beloved city for shopping until Sunday when she flies to Mexico for the G-20 summit on Monday June 18.