MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US/Argentina are going through 'a difficult period'; Timerman downplays situation

“Right now we are going through a difficult period in our relationship, but we hope we can still develop a positive tie with Argentina,” Jacobson said

US Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Roberta Jacobson has said the bilateral relationship with Argentina is going through a “difficult period”, but stated the legal battle between that country and holdouts is not a “political problem” but a “judicial problem.”

 “Right now we are going through a difficult period in our relationship, but we hope we can still develop a positive tie with Argentina,” Jacobson said during a press conference in New York following United Nations General Assembly activities.

“We don’t think the conflict [between Argentina and holdouts over the country’s national debt] is between our two governments. It’s something that has to be solved in court and it should not affect our bilateral relationship,” she added.

Last week, the Argentine government summoned Business attaché for the US embassy in Buenos Aires Kevin Sullivan after he stated Argentina has to “get out of the default to re-gain economic growth perspectives.”

Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said sanctions will be applied if Sullivan’s behavior is repeated, as the government considers Argentina is not in default, as it has “honored its debt”.

However on Friday Timerman from Switzerland played down the diplomatic tension surged in the last hours with the United States and Germany as a consequence of the legal battle with the 'holdouts'.

“Argentina is not angry with any other nation; what we do is to defend our interests,” he added.

Timerman at the same time again rejected statements made by Germany's Finance Minister Wolgang Schauble and reproduced by an ad recently published in Argentine media and signed by the American Task Force Argentina group, which represents the 'holdouts'.

“The German minister made untrue statements” the minister told a news agency, adding “but we are not upset”.