MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US wants Argentina to play a more active international role

Shannon: The world is a safer place when Argentina has solid relations with other countries

President Nestor Kirchner administration was a “success” in pulling Argentina out from the 2001/02 collapse but President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner must take the following step and that is making Argentina again “an international player”, said Thomas Shannon Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

According to Buenos Aires daily Clarin Washington correspondent, Shannon who will be visiting Buenos Aires next January said that "we expect and are waiting that a strong and self confident Argentina plays an important role in the region in an important moment for South America". "I've read carefully Mrs. Kirchner speech to Congress and it's clear she opened a space to deepen dialogue and cooperation", said Mr. Shannon who nevertheless elegantly refused to talk about some hot spots in the region such as Venezuela, Bolivia, or Argentina's relation with the Club of Paris. However he does believe that the Club of Paris issue must be solved between Buenos Aires, Europe and the IMF while the US will be holding an inter-agencies dialogue (State Department, Treasury, National Security Council, etc) to discuss the official position. "I prefer sending a positive signal to Cristina's government", he admits. Argentina can play an important role in the world's agenda, (arms proliferation, terrorism, Middle East) "because a successful Argentina is a promoter of democracy and stability for the region. She could play a very important role in the Andean countries that are going through historic, when not turbulent moments" underlined Shannon. The region's "turbulent" agenda refers to Bolivia and the autonomy dispute; the Venezuelan referendum that backfired on President Hugo Chavez; negotiations for the librations of hostages held by the Colombian guerrilla groups; the resurgence in Paraguay of a former general involved in military coups and daily events in Ecuador and the constituent assembly. "Any comments on sensitive issues could be misinterpreted. I am betting on the largest possible opening to the world of Argentina, as promised by Cristina", adds Shannon. "It's not that the administration of Nestor Kirchner abandoned the international arena completely. Rather is looked after its basic interests", such as the UN, OAS, Interpol. "But historically Argentina has played an active role in international bodies and promoted dialogue between the region and the world. I dare say that when Argentina has had solid relations with other countries, including the United States, the world is a safer place". Mr Shannon will most probably be traveling to Argentina together with the new US Treasury official in charge of relations with Latinamerica, Brian O'Neill.