MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner satisfied with visit to Spain

Spanish president Jose Aznar gave its full support to Argentina and its current policies that have attained a recovery “far beyond what was expected”.

During a press conference in Madrid after meeting Argentine president Nestor Kirchner on an official state visit to Spain, Mr. Aznar said "we praise the successes of the Argentine recovery which shows very significant data. Argentina kept its word and surpassed its commitments".

Mr. Kirchner said he was hopeful Spanish investors would recover confidence and return to Argentina that "still is in the stairs of hell but climbing and improving".

"Argentina is on the path of reliability, of a serious country and this has allowed us to advance and help the Spanish companies (in Argentina) become profitable again", added the Argentina president who also met with the cream of the Spanish business community.

Relations with the Spanish investors have been tense since privatized public utilities in Argentina have had their rates frozen since December 2001.

However with the recovery of the economy and encouraging prospects of sustained growth in Argentina the Spanish business community apparently is willing to keep waiting for events including a readjustment, "in the near future".

When asked to asses the results of the visit, President Kirchner revealed he arrived in Madrid with a "half and half" success attitude; however "we're several points above our expectations".

Great part of the success is that Argentina no longer has a "double speech", said Mr. Kirchner.

"When I was here last July I told business men and investors what I believed and I'm back and I've said the same".