MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Finally Cristina Fernandez is on an official visit to Paraguay

The Argentine president will be returning Triple Alliance war trophies: furniture and other belongings from Mariscal Francisco Solano Lopez

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez arrived Tuesday evening to Paraguay to begin early Wednesday an official visit which has been delayed several times. Besides the usual agenda discussions and accords signing with her peer Horacio Cartes, the visit will also have a strong symbolism since the Argentine president will be formally returning to Paraguay furniture and other belongings from one of the country's most revered leaders, Francisco Solano Lopez.

 The furniture and belongings were confiscated by Argentine forces during the Triple Alliance War, 150 years ago, when together with Brazil and to a lesser extent, Uruguay, the neighbors squashed landlocked Paraguay, virtually killing every able man between 12 and 60, and looting the country.

The belongings were on display at the Entre Rios province, along the Parana river, through which the Triple alliance fleet sailed to finally, after much resistance defeat Solano Lopez.

Thus, the (limited) war reparation is seen as a great gesture from Argentina to Paraguay. Brazil still has to show a similar action.

According to the Asuncion media the bilateral agenda with Argentina is “long and complicated” and recalled that issues related to the shared hydroelectric dam Yacyreta 'remain stalled'.

Since Paraguay has a huge surplus of power from Yacyreta and from a second even larger dam, Itaipú, shared with Brazil, it has an ongoing controversy on payment for the abundant power, with prices dating to when the dams were built decades ago.

Another irritating issue for landlocked Paraguay are “the recurrent impediments and barriers to the country's foreign trade and shipping along the Paraguay-Parana watercourse” and Argentine protectionism which limits Paraguayan exports of farm produce and textiles.

According to the Paraguayan media the Argentine president cancelled several scheduled visits to Paraguay in the last four years: in May and October 2011; June 2012 and recently 2 July 2014, because of a sore throat. Some because of medical reasons, others because of 'full agendas'.