MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“?A lot of patience is needed to endure Argentines”

Argentina reacted coolly to an alleged critical expression from Brazilian president Lula da Silva during his recent visit to Japan and reported in the Brazilian press.

Apparently President Lula during a meeting at the Brazilian embassy in Tokyo said that "you need a lot of (b?.) patience to endure the Argentines", and further on added that "many are recommending me to just kick the whole thing ("strategic alliance with Argentina"), but I think Brazil must tolerate the Argentines".

The expression was said in the context of reactions to recent statements by Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Rafael Bielsa criticizing Brazil's aspiration of becoming a permanent member of the Security Council if a United Nations reform program is finally approved.

President Lula da Silva also admitted to his advisors and delegation that relations with Argentine president Nestor Kirchner were not going "through the best of moments".

Argentina's Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez when asked about the incident said he preferred not to comment since he didn't know about details "in depth" and "I prefer to talk with all the facts on the table".

"The expression seems rather strong coming from a president", added Mr. Fernandez in direct reference to the report published in Folha de Sao Paulo's Sunday edition.

Rifts between Presidents Kirchner and Lula da Silva have become quite common. During a recent summit in Brazil which convened South American and Arab leaders, President Kirchner left the meeting unexpectedly apparently disappointed with President Lula da Silva's foreign policy.

Argentina is insistent in privileging regional integration (Mercosur, South American community of nations), but Brazil is more interested in playing a global role and is lobbying strongly for UN Security Council reforms with Germany, Japan, India and South Africa.

In effect the Brazilian press reported Sunday that President Lula da Silva has in effect become a globe trotter with 41 overseas trips since taking office 29 months ago.

President Lula da Silva has completed three times the number of trips of US President George Bush and four times those of John Paul II who was also known as the peregrine Pope, highlighted Jornal Do Brasil.