MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine-Chilean incident is “over”

Argentina and Chile ministers of Defence described the recent joint military exercises in the extreme south border area as “proof of integration” and emphasized that the latest diplomatic incident between both countries “belonged to the past”.

"This exercise is a proof of integration for solving problems on both sides of the Andes", said Argentine Defence minister Jose Pampuro on the conclusion of the "Solidarity 2004" joint military exercise in the town of 28 de Noviembre, just across the border from Puerto Natales.

"The success of the activities deployed by Chilean and Argentine Armed Forces indicate that normality rules our bilateral relations", emphasized Jaime Ravinet, Chile's Defence minister. "The incident is over; now we talk about integration and this exercise is proof of that purpose", added the Argentine official.

Mr. Pampuro was referring to the controversy that erupted over a column published last May in El Mercurio by incoming Chilean Foreign Affairs minister Ignacio Walker in which he describes the Peronist party as "fascist" prone and authoritarian, plus saying that President Kirchner only political asset is his popularity and opinion polls.

In spite of repeated apologies from Mr. Walker who published the article when he was not in the cabinet and in the heat of the energy crisis dispute of last winter, the Argentine government has said it remained disappointed with the attitude and Foreign Affairs minister Rafael Bielsa anticipated in an interview president Kirchner would not shake hands with Minister Walker if he effectively keeps to the Chile official visit agenda next month.

"It's the first time we've seen a military exercise in support of civilians and this means our defence policies act in harmony", stressed Mr. Ravinet. The exercise simulated the rescue of the inhabitants of Rio Turbio and 28 de Noviembre in the extreme south of Argentina, province of Santa Cruz, next to Chile, after they were completely isolated by snow blizzards. Given access was impossible from the Argentine side but not from Chile, humanitarian assistance was requested in the framework of the natural catastrophes cooperation agreement signed by both countries in 1997.

Operations included parachuting food and medicine, sanitary evacuations and further on helicopter and special vehicle convoys to ensure food and fuel to the Argentine border towns. A Hercules aircraft, three helicopters, six combat vehicles, sanitary units and trucks from transport units were involved in the five days operation. The three services from both sides participated totalling 50 Argentines and 130 Chileans.

"Solidarity 2004" was executed by the Argentine commander of the Strategic Southern Area, General Miguel Angel Moreno and the commander of the Chilean Austral Military Region, General Luis Clavel Matzen. Chilean ambassador in Buenos Aires Luis Maira plus other ranking officials and military officers were present at the closing ceremony. The biannual exercise will be held next time in Chilean territory.