MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

War Veterans with President De la Rúa.

Argentine president Fernando De la Rúa promised to consider solutions for several problems faced by the “Malvinas” veterans during a meeting which took place in Government House

.The veterans last Wednesday marched in downtown Buenos Aires to Plaza de Mayo and were finally received by De la Rúa in his office, after some minor scuffling and incidents with police. According to reports in the Argentine press the incidents ended when President De la Rúa's private secretary Mr. Leonardo Aiello, invited a small delegation to Government House.

Héctor Beiroa, head of the Federation of Malvinas veterans that organised the demonstration is reported as having informed Mr. De la Rúa of the combatants concern because of the lack of contact with the veterans organisations, "since there's no dialogue with the government, in spite of the several meetings we've had with the President".Apparently Mr. De la Rúa told the veterans to count with his "decisive support", adding that what has been achieved by the organisations still has to be completed, "to solve all the demands still pending".

Among those demands Mr. Beiroa mentioned the updating and effective implementation of the veterans social benefits legislation, Bill 23.109, and the normalisation of a national committee of former Malvinas combatants which will depend from the Home Secretary. Other requests include official designation of April 2nd. as "Veterans Day".

"We leave Casa Rosada modestly satisfied since we were able to talk to the President, and the fact he listened to our demands", said Mr. Beiroa adding that the following day (Thursday) "we expect to have a meeting with government delegates named by Mr. De la Rúa, to begin considering the implementation of our demands".

A Casa Rosada spokesman indicated that Mr. Horacio Jaunarena, the Presidency's Secretary, will preside the scheduled meeting, however it "will include the Federation and representatives from all other veterans organisations".

De la Rúa administration's is intent in opening all options on the issue, since during the last ten years, "Mr. Beiroa's Federation has been clearly identified with former President Menem's Malvinas policy", according to reports in the Argentine press