MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Néstor Kirchner's debut as former Argentine president

Citizen Nestor Kirchner

Former Argentine president Néstor Kirchner spoke yesterday at a rally organized by workers of state-run water company Aysa of the death of former coast guard officer Héctor Febres, the suitcase-gate scandal and Argentina's relationship with the United States. This is his first public appearance since leaving office on December 10.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana met with US Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne yesterday to express Argentina's "displeasure and unrest towards the US government's attitude regarding (the suitcase-gate)." Taiana told Wayne that "we have been offended in a surprising and unfair manner," reported a spokesman for Taiana. Former president Kirchner said at the Aysa rally that "it is not a coincidence that Febres turned up dead, or that certain things are happening in Argentina." Febres was found dead in his jail cell four days before a verdict was issued on the trial for the kidnapping and torture of four people at the ESMA Naval Mechanics School detention centre. Cyanide was later found in his body. Kirchner also demanded that the US "send us the fugitive, this famous Antonini, so that he can declare in an Argentine court." Venezuelan businessman Guido Antonini Wilson has been charged by an Argentine court with smuggling and money-laundering. Four people are currently on trial in the US for allegedly offering Antonini Wilson money and making threats to keep him from revealing that the money was destined to a candidate in Argentina's presidential election, which one of the accused says was Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. "(Wayne) said that relations with Argentina were good. What you are doing in Miami is a disgrace, Mr. Ambassador: I'm telling you as an Argentine citizen, relations are not good like this," he highlighted "Argentina is not a colony, you must respect us," he added. Néstor Kirchner also lambasted Argentine daily La Nación for their coverage of the story. The newspaper "protected the military dictatorship" and now "says things because they are trying to wear us down in any possible way," he said, and added that he "knew which interests they respond to." Néstor Kirchner is to meet with over 200 mayors of the Argentine Federation of Mayoralties (FAM) today. The meeting has been organized by FAM leader Julio Pereyra. Buenos Aires Herald