MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Be brave for the challenges ahead”.

The people and the government of Argentina have to be brave to face all the challenges ahead in this crucial moment, President Nestor Kirchner said yesterday.

The head of state flew almost half of his Cabinet to the Entre Rios city of Gualeguaychu, a place that describes itself as the nation's capital of Carnival.

Kirchner had his pockets full of announcements of public works for the area totalling 47 million pesos. The ceremony, also attended by Entre Rios Peronist Governor Jorge Busti and Gualeguaychu Mayor Jose Irigoyen, was held at the Corsodromo, the city's Carnival parade venue.

Argentines have to know that we are going through a crucial time, and that we have to think about the future generations, that do not have to suffer the same frustration that we suffered, said the President.

If we defend our country, they are going to say that thousands of evil things are going to happen to us. They will slander us, they will tell us we are not rational, that rational were those who privatized everything and condemned the nation to hunger, he added.

Kirchner, who took office on May 25 last year, is flying to the provinces with investment announcements almost on a weekly basis. He fancies giving heated speeches in which he frequently attacks neo-liberal policies and defends Argentina's position to pay back only 25 percent of the 88 billion dollars of defaulted debt. Yesterday, he did not mention the IMF or bondholders by name. But Busti did in his stead.

The government and the people of Entre Rios back you in this arm-wrestling bout against multilateral lenders, vulture funds and against all those who want to suck the blood of Argentines, said the Peronist governor.

Kirchner also had an early celebration of his 54th birthday today. The people in the rally sang happy birthday and Busti presented the head of state with a Racing Club soccer shirt as a present.

The President's delegation was manned by Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez, Social Welfare Minister Alicia Kirchner (the President's sister), Planning Minister Julio De Vido, Health Minister G. Gonzalez Garcia and Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa.