MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Commercial insertion” and political stability

A politically stable, prosperous and united Latinamerica based on the ideals of democracy and social justice, a strategic alliance with Mercosur, plus a serious, wide and mature relation with United States and Europe were defined by incoming Argentine president Nestor Kirchner as the pillars of his administration's foreign policy.

During his speech to the nation and Congress on taking office this Sunday, president Kirchner said that Mercosur, together with economic integration must cover other institutional fields and expand to include other Latinamerican members.

"A serious, wide and mature relation with the United States and the countries that constitute the European Union, is what must be expected from us", added Mr. Kirchner arguing that "we favor multilateralism as a world policy, but this does not mean that automatic alignments should be expected, but rather serious, mature and rational relations that respect countries' dignities".

A special paragraph was dedicated to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic which received a resounding applause from Congress. "We come from the South of the Fatherland, from the land of the "Malvinas" culture and of the continental ices, and we shall not claudicate in our sovereignty claim over the Islas Malvinas".

Mr. Kirchner also committed Argentina's alertness and willingness to help eradicate international terrorism, "that such deep and horrible traces has left in the memory of the Argentine people", one of the many evils humanity is suffering.

Another field of special interest of Argentina's foreign policy will be the search for peace and consensus building in organizations such as the United Nations so they can be effectively committed to promote with efficiency social and economic development, helping to combat poverty.

However in spite of the Latinamerican solidarity push of Mr. Kirchner, it also seems the political side of the foreign affairs agenda will be closely linked to another even more ambitious objective and that is the "commercial insertion" of Argentina in the world.

Mr. Kirchner proposed that "commercial insertion in the world" becomes a permanent State policy, that extends beyond political mandates and has the participation of the private sector, academia and other civil organizations.

Actually this idea seems to derives from Mr. Kirchner's central proposal based on "domestic capitalism", limited foreign borrowing and a strong "productive" Argentina that ensures work, dignity and equal opportunities for all Argentines, and sufficient wealth to distribute.

Mr. Rafael Bielsa the new Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, an expert in Constitutional Law with no diplomatic background, believes in a close alliance with Brazil, to help build "a strong block and voice", and a fully integrated Latinamerica. "FTAA is not good or bad. What is bad is that we join FTAA and Argentina looses from that association", said Mr. Bielsa.

"At this moment everybody seems to be reviewing the old liberal axiom of first growth and then social inclusion.. Now the idea is the reduction of inequalities and in parallel economic growth", argued Mr. Bielsa.

Mr. Bielsa's coming agenda includes the Organization of American States annual General Assembly to be held in Santiago, between June 8 and 10, and on June 16th, United Nations Decolonization Committee meeting where the Falklands issue is to be addressed.

In the meantime given the recent Argentine position contrary to the Iraq war and the condemnation of Cuba for human rights violations, some fence mending will be needed.

Apparently president George Bush made the first gesture (and in Spanish): he personally rang Mr. Kirchner to congratulate him as the future president of Argentina as well as invite him to visit Washington.