MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Manipulated numbers and long recovery

Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Ruckauf warned that even if Argentina manages to receive international aid, recovery will not be quick, on the contrary "long and painful" because the "country is bust" and numbers were manipulated. Talking to foreign correspondents Mr. Ruckauf revealed that together with Finance Minister Jorge Remes Lenicov they will be travelling to Washington at the end of February to explain details of the economic policies currently being drafted. "When we meet with the multilateral organizations we expect to work with the support of the United States and the G 7 (Group of Seven most industrialized countries of the world). We're going to ask them solidarity with the current Argentine situation", indicated Mr. Ruckauf. However Mr. Ruckauf pointed out there has been a clear change in the attitude towards Argentina following the first steps taken by the current Duhalde administration. "They've noted Argentina has recovered something it was lacking, that is a strong political leadership with Congressional support". Mr. Ruckauf added that the economic program, (and budget) will be "sustainable", with an impeccable coordination of "monetary, fiscal and credit" policies. When asked how much Argentina would request from the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Ruckauf replied, "There are no such things as free funds, and much less for Argentina that has honoured its commitments in a most strange way. Not only did we not honour our commitments, but we also modified reality, and gave numbers that were different to the real ones". US officials and even President George Bush have reiterated on several occasions that Argentina must elaborate a "sustainable" and "believable" economic program.