MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Where are you brother?

Argentine president Nestor Kirchner who successfully managed to reach a medium term agreement with the IMF thanked Latinamerican presidents for the support received during the frantic discussions, but also criticized the silence, although without mentioning him, of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Last Tuesday when Argentina was in technical default having not reimbursed a 2,9 billion US dollars credit to the IMF, Chilean president Ricardo Lagos, Vicente Fox from Mexico, Alejandro Toledo from Peru and Alvaro Uribe from Colombia rang Mr. Kirchner to express solidarity and support, according to the Argentine press.

However, all the phone calls from Buenos Aires to Brasilia expecting support from President Lula da Silva went unanswered.

"Some had a few hours cold", said ironically president Kirchner when asked about details of the strenuous negotiations and Brazilian silence.

"Quiet a difference from the United States government position. Support from a country such as the US obviously was most helpful", stressed the Argentine president.

"President Lagos played an important role, so did President Fox with a very dignified attitude in support of us together with his Economy minister".

"Even president Uribe from Colombia with all the problems he has, had a minute to spare for Argentina".

In private president Kirchner had previously criticized the Brazilian president for accepting a plus 4% GDP primary budget surplus in negotiations with the IMF, which then was later expected from Argentina during these last few months' discussions.

But in spite of the veiled criticisms Mr. Kirchner said that Lula "is still a good friend".