MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

First steps to defuse Argentine gov. farmers' conflict

CFK: "Lift the strike so we can then sit to dialogue"

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner called on farm leaders to a “serious” dialogue, but cautioned that the more than two weeks long strike must be previously lifted.

"I'm calling on all Argentines to dialogue. I humbly request as president of all Argentines to lift the work stoppage so we can then sit to dialogue" said Mrs. Kirchner during a political rally organized by the ruling Justicialista party in Buenos Aires on Thursday evening. Argentine farmers have been protesting over rising taxes on major export goods. The strike, now in its third week, has led to food shortages in shops and has also hit exports and has also led to street clashes in Buenos Aires. Cristina Fernandez ratified her deep belief "in democratic dialogue", but warned that the exercise of government has shown her that "it's impossible to make government decisions that leave all Argentines a hundred percent satisfied". "Motherland yes, colony no", shouted the 15.000 militants that held hundreds of flags and kept hailing and applauding the Argentine president speech, who addressed the crowd from a stage surrounded by cabinet ministers, legislators, governors, political leaders and her husband and former president Nestor Kirchner. Her speech, which was televised to the whole country and carefully listened by the farmers at the roadblocks that have staging the protests was preceded by a joint release from the four organizations behind the huge demonstrations calling on the government to open a channel of dialogue and reconciliation, for a conflict which was becoming particularly acrimonious. "We call on the authorities to an instance of dialogue which helps to achieve reconciliation among Argentines", said the release. The camp strike and road blocks begun when the government raised duties on grain and oil seed exports over two weeks ago but President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner insisted on the legitimacy of the "windfall" levies as a valid instrument for the redistribution of income in Argentina. Mrs. Kirchner said that a government "can't dialogue with a pistol pointed at the head", particularly in democracy. "It's not a matter of force or pride that a president can not negotiate until the strike measures are lifted", she underlined. Mrs. Kirchner also claimed that her government was not against the small farmers, but cautioned that behind them "hide the interests of the big pools" who are saying the government wants to take all their profits. She also argued that by lifting levies (to 42%) on soy beans of which 95% are exported, and lowering them for wheat and corn (29%) the government was promoting crops that help feed Argentines and Argentine livestock. Otherwise many Argentines at current world prices would not have access to a decent daily meal. Argentina, a leading exporter of beef, corn, soy oil and soybeans, has benefited from the recent global surge in commodity prices.