MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

A friendly Socialist Bachelet hand for Vazquez

“A good Socialist always helps another Socialist”, that seems to have been the driving force behind the brief visit to Uruguay of Chilean president Michelle Bachelet who managed to put in scarce four hours in Montevideo after having concluded two intense days in Buenos Aires.

Ms Bachelet's first overseas visit since taking office early March was to restless neighbour Argentina, which Chilean policy describes as a top priority "strategic alliance" given the long geography, abundant trade, energy and political links.

Particularly natural gas since Chile, totally dependent on Argentine supply, has fallen hostage of President Nestor Kirchner's policy of privileging "domestic demand" over export contracts, and is concerned with the coming long winter months.

No wonder then Uruguay's first Socialist president Tabare Vazquez begged her Chilean female counterpart to prop him. After all they share interests and sufferings, including Argentina and Mercosur, but Chile's Socialists are more pragmatic.

Faced with an ever crippling Mercosur for junior members, Uruguay has begun discussions for a free trade agreement with United States, a blasphemy for the hard line rank and file Uruguayan Socialists.

"Free trade agreements are not contradictory with Latinamerican integration", said president Bachelet adding that in spite of all the trade agreements Chile has signed, "we never abandoned our commitment to Latinamerican identity".

Chile and U.S. signed a free trade agreement during the previous administration of also Socialist president Ricardo Lagos.

Ms Bachelet highlighted the political coincidences with President Vázquez and promised to increase bilateral relations given the "ideological proximity" underlining that "we believe solutions to social problems can only be achieved with a greater regional integration".

The Chilean presidential visit was also interpreted as a support gesture for Uruguay in its dispute with Argentina over the pulp mills under construction in a shared river.

Chile is also involved in the controversy since many trucks with equipment for the pulp mills in Uruguay had to turn back because Argentine pickets protesting against the alleged future air and water pollution blocked routes and bridges leading to Uruguay.

"Our governments are committed to the South American Community, to the Regional Infrastructure Initiative and the strategic bi-oceanic corridor linking Montevideo with Valparaiso", added President Vázquez.

Following the half hour meeting with President Vazquez, Ms Bachelet addressed the United Nations Latinamerican Economic Committee, Cepal, meeting in Montevideo, where she underlined the coincidence of all Chilean political forces in fighting "exclusion problems" and most probably, agreeing on solutions. "I anticipate a large political agreement on this issue", she forecasted.

Meantime in an effort to show the close links between the two Socialist led alliances, the Chilean delegation made up of several cabinet ministers and members of Congress met with their Uruguayan counterparts "for discussions".

However things were not so smooth when the pictures session begun, most Uruguayan officials elbowed strongly for a shot next to the Lady who also proved to be extremely popular in Montevideo.

School children lined up to receive her, Chilean residents displayed flags and banners with her picture from the recent electoral campaign and Uruguayans, specially women, clapped and hailed the lady president in her impressive red dress. She responded on several occasions by breaking protocol, hugging and exchanging a few compliments.

Both presidents left for aides to inform details of four cooperation treaties they formally signed and then Ms Bachelet was back on her black limousine to the airport and Santiago.

Certainly Montevideo was well worth a visit, no surprises and full of Socialist smiles.