MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mrs. Kirchner after Argentina's return to money markets

Pte. Cristina Fernandez with Mrs Bentacourt's sister during the march in Paris

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner joined on Sunday thousands who marched in downtown Paris calling for the release of French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt who was kidnapped by FARC rebels six years ago, and is alleged to be seriously ill with fear of life.

Mrs. Kirchner arrived early Sunday to Paris and is scheduled to meet French president Nicholas Sarkozy Monday to address several issues besides their joint efforts for the liberation of Ms Betancourt, particularly Argentina's relation with the Paris Club which is limiting the country's access to money markets. In the march, which was simultaneous in fourteen French cities, the Argentine president joined the French Foreign Affairs minister Bernard Kouchner, Human Rights minister, First Lady Carla Bruni and relatives of the Betancourt family. Mrs. Kirchner full delegation was also present at the march, Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana, Federal Planning minister Julio De Vido, the Executive's legal counselor Carlos Zannini plus several members of Congress. "Whom most efforts must commit to the liberation of the obstacles, are precisely those who have the responsibility of conducting democracy's institutions and facilitating the exchange" said President Cristina Fernandez interviewed during the march. "Human rights must prevail over all other issues", she insisted. For Mrs. Kirchner and President Sarkozy the release of Ingrid Betancourt has become a political and personal challenge. The Argentine delegation also includes the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo who will be honored in Paris for their decades' long human rights struggle. A garden dedicated to the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo is to be officially opened Monday by the mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe and Mrs. Kirchner. With President Sarkozy whom the Argentine president met when he was Minister of Interior and she was a Senator, Mrs. Kirchner will discuss Argentina's relations with France, the European Union and the Paris Club. Both leaders are interested in finding a way out to the Paris Club stale mate which limits French financing of the "bullet train" to be built between Buenos Aires, Rosario and Cordoba, a project involving several billion US dollars. According to Clarin, citing unidentified government sources, Argentina could pay part of its 7 billion US dollars in defaulted debt to Paris Club creditors in exchange for their support in getting new loans elsewhere. Argentina refuses a second agreement with the Paris Club if it is to be monitored by the International Monetary Fund. The Paris Club is an informal association of government creditors, including the US and Japan, which works to bail out troubled debtors. The group lent Argentina 6.3 billion in 2001, before the country's default on 95 billion in debt. Following the presidential summit Mrs. Kirchner will be received at the Matignon Palace by Prime Minister Francois Fillon. The last appointment in Paris is a meeting with UNESCO's Secretary General Koichiro Matsuura.