MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lagos: ”It's his (Kirchner's) problem, not ours”

Chilean president Ricardo Lagos further complained this Wednesday against Argentina for the cuts imposed in the natural gas provision to Chile and stressed that written commitments must be honoured in spite of the supply difficulties confronted by the neighbouring country.

"It's his problem, not ours", said Mr. Lagos in direct reference to Argentine president Nestor Kirchner and the complaint letter sent yesterday to the Argentine Embassy in Santiago.

During the weekend Mr. Lagos said that confidence between both countries had been affected and bilateral relations were a "bit shredded" because of Argentina not honouring the 1995 "energy integration protocol" when the main gas pipelines across the Andes were being built.

"We're telling Mr. Kirchner to see how he can solve his problem, but we demand that contracts be honoured", insisted President Lagos.

Early in the day, the Argentine Foreign Affairs Ministry argued that the surplus gas export reduction "does not contradict current bilateral agreements".

According to the Argentine position, the law binds natural gas producers to keep their export commitments as long as they satisfy domestic demand.

"This rule is previous to the completion of the energy integration process between our countries, therefore the measures adopted given the emergency, do not contradict current bilateral commitments", said the Argentine reply to Chile signed by Foreign Affairs interim Minister Jorge Taiana.

The energy crisis forced a 3,3 million cubic meters reduction in Argentina's daily gas exports to Chile. Argentina provides 90% of Chile's average daily gas consumption which totals 22 million cubic meters. Besides 25% of Chile's electricity is generated from gas.

Further on Mr. Taiana points out that President Kirchner is "highly concerned with the expressions contained in the April 6 letter, particularly those that question the degree of commitment in the strengthening of the integration process".

Chilean Foreign Secretary Soledad Alvear on presenting the complaint letter on Tuesday stressed that the Argentine unilateral decision was "a stain" in the two countries relation.

Chilean president Lagos has also been criticized at home for the Argentine dependent energy policy of Chile.