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Menem counter attacks; Ciro Gomes keeps growing; Ten million jobs; European ban for Chilean poultry

Menem counter attacks

Former president Carlos Menem said the Argentine government was involved in the publishing of an article in The New York Times, NYT, implying that he concealed the murderous attack on a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires eight years ago that killed at least 85 people. According to Mr. Menem the NYT correspondent in Buenos Aires was given four full reports on the famous case by a government emissary, "so it coincided with the current presidential campaign", particularly now that Cordoba province governor, Jose Manuel De la Sota, (with president Eduardo Duhalde's support) joined the race. "Why does the government choose this particular moment to spread misleading facts and start once again a highly defamatory campaign?", asked Mr. Menem during a political rally. The New York Times published this week an article with confessions from an alleged former Iran intelligence officer who accused Mr. Menem of covering and hiding evidence of the 1994 attack against a Jewish institution, perpetrated "by the Iranian government", in exchange of 10 million US dollars that were deposited in a Swiss secret bank account. Mr. Menem added that one of his aides contacted the NYT journalist in Buenos Aires to inquire about the source of the information and he revealed that they were supplied "by the government". The former president reiterated he will press charges against the NYT for the blasphemous publication, but admitted he does have a Swiss secret account dating back to 1986 when the Argentine government compensated him with 200,000 US dollars for having been jailed for several years and later exiled in the north of Argentina during the military regime. Mr. Menem said that during his administration every possible help was given to the Judicial branch investigating the 1994 bombing and he described the NYT publication as a "political high voltage conspiracy", recalling that the same charges were made two years ago by a dissident former Iran agent, never proved or supported by evidence, and that the Iran government rejected any involvement, direct or indirect in the attack. "We're in the middle of a political campaign and when the ruling administration launches his candidate, surprisingly the same accusations emerge", underlined Mr. Menem. The former president challenged his opponents "to investigate" his bank accounts and alleged links with the attack but warned that "defamation at such magnitude must have a limit because they are trying to involve a former president in terrorist carnage". "This is political persecution, as happened when I was detained for six months and none of the charges were proven. But whatever they throw at us it won't prevent me from continuing along the road to the presidency?". This is not the first time the version of a Menem cover up in exchange for money surfaces. Actually two years ago the same accusations were made by a former Iranian intelligence officer actually under protection of German authorities.

Ciro Gomes keeps growing

Ciro Gomes the left of center Brazilian presidential candidate, continues to advance in the latest opinion polls and has cut the difference with leading presidential hopeful, Socialist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to just eight points. According to the latest poll published by Vox Populi Institute from Rio do Janeiro, Mr. Gomes grew three points during the last week and now figures with 27% of vote intention, thirteen points ahead of Mr. José Serra the ruling coalition candidate, and eight below Mr. Lula who managed an extra point in the same period and now has 35%. If the second round of the presidential election was held this week and with none of the two leading candidates managing 50%, Mr. Gomes from the Popular Socialist Party would be backed by 43% of the electorate and Mr. Lula by 42%, according to the poll. The poll was done over the weekend in Brazil's main cities and 1,994 people were interviewed. Mr. Ciro Gomes has another favorable point, he has the lowest rejection percentage since only 10% would not vote him under any circumstances, compared to 23% for Mr. Serra and 30% for Mr. Lula who has been leading in the polls since he announced his candidacy in March/April. Brazilians will be electing current president Fernando Cardoso's successor next October 6th., as well as 27 governors, all the Lower House and half the Senate, plus state legislatives.

Ten million jobs

Brazilian Socialist presidential candidate Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva this week officially presented his government program, a very moderate, carefully worded proposal with which he expects to become the country's next president in this his fourth attempt since 1989. Not in one of the 72 pages document does he mention any of the historic banners of the Workers Party, rejection of International Monetary Fund, IMF, sponsored economic programs or disavowal of the country's swelling foreign debt, much less any possible rupture with the current economic policies. If Mr. Lula is elected his priorities will be social policies, a 20% increase in the minimum monthly salary (83 US dollars), conclusion of the current land distribution programs, and the creation of ten million new jobs in four years. However all "contracts will be honored", as well as a "responsible transition" to ensure the fiscal, monetary and inflationary targets agreed by the current Cardoso administration with the IMF. A Workers Party government would target a 5% sustainable, long term annual growth, with strong promotion of foreign trade and a significant reduction of interest rates and financial costs. Regarding foreign policy the program envisages closer links with South American countries, strengthening of Mercosur and a more active and solidarity policy towards Argentina. However the US sponsored Free Trade Association of the Americas would cease to be a priority. As to the government's role, it would have a greater regulatory influence to ensure a long term economic growth model with a strong "de-privatization" effort, meaning not necessarily nationalization, but rather curtailing the power of big business, redirecting it towards the challenge of overcoming "social exclusion" in Brazil. The new version of the Workers Party program is quiet different from the original draft approved in the grouping's convention last December, and apparently is geared to finish with the market "turbulence" and investors fears that have been haunting Brazil since Mr. Lula began leading opinion polls last April.

European ban for Chilean poultry

The European Commission banned this week all imports of Chilean poultry following the outbreak of chicken influenza in that country. The ban will stand until next January 2003 and is extensive to live chickens, eggs, broilers, wild birds and all poultry in general. The highly contagious virus was first detected in Chile last June and almost a million chickens have been sacrificed since. Mexico and the rest of Latinamerica imposed a ban on products from the Chilean poultry industry almost immediately. The chicken influenza outbreak is a serious blow for Chile that annually exports 400 million US dollars in poultry products to the rest of the world. "The situation is not so serious as if we had foot and mouth disease, but much will depend on how effectively sanitary officials address the challenge and how committed farmers act", indicated Dr. Hugo Díaz, head of the Public Information Department of the Chilean Veterinarian Association. Dr. Díaz estimates that the out break consequences could last for two years since the original strain was benign, but since farmers and officials "were rather slow in reacting, now we have a highly pathogenic strain". "We must think with our brains and soul, not with our pockets. Not only poultry infected must be terminated, but also surrounding areas isolated with a proper and correct inventory of the situation", stressed Dr. Díaz.