MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

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De la Rúa-Blair meeting.

Argentine president Fernando De la Rúa and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be meeting next September 6th. in New York during the Millennium Summit according to the Buenos Aires daily "Clarin". Besides the formal sovereignty demand concerning the Falklands, president De la Rua will request Britain to support Buenos Aires as seat for the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, an issue which apparently has been on the table for seven years and is still unresolved because of the British attitude, confirmed last year in an Antarctic meeting held in Lima, Peru, indicates "Clarin. Antarctic Treaty members are scheduled to meet at the end of September in The Hague.Apparently Britain's objection or vote, is conditioned to the "civilisation" of the Argentine Antarctic operations and research effort, that is moving the area of responsibility from the Ministry of Defence to Foreign Affairs. The issue was also considered by former president Carlos Menem when he officially visited Britain.

Honorary Consul in Santa Fé

Argentine businessman Allberto C. Gollan was named British Honorary Consul for the province of Santa Fé by Ambassador William Mardsen. Mr. Gollan becomes the first Honorary Consul since 1970 in Santa Fé, a rich farming and industrial province to the north of Buenos Aires. Argentine press report that this is another example of the increasing bilateral relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom, which will soon be followed by closer co-operation in cultural and education affairs through the British Council. Britain already has Honorary Consuls in Córdoba and Mendoza.

Ministerial restructure

Argentine Minister of Economy, José Luis Machinea completed this week a restructure of his team with what observers consider two clear messages: he sacked the Secretary of Energy, apparently for reacting too slowly to fuel price increases early this year, and named as Secretary of Industry a businessman closely linked to the Argentine steel industry. Javier Tizado, Deputy CEO of Techint one of Argentina's main industrial complexes will have the delicate job as Secretary of Industry of trying to help Argentine industry to recover its