MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New attempt to address Falklands' claim with PM Brown

The Argentine press speculates with a meeting between President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Prime Minister Gordon Brown next month in Peru during the fifth Latinamerica-Caribbean-European Union summit, for which 24 leaders have been confirmed including the British PM.

Mrs Kirchner and Brown were scheduled to meet and possibly hold a private encounter early this month in London during a progressive parties' summit which was hosted by the leader of the British Labor Party. However the three weeks long conflict with Argentine farmers frustrated Mrs. Kirchner appointment in London. EU Counselor for Political, Economic and Trade Affairs Francisco Acosta confirmed to the Peruvian authorities that Spanish president Rodriguez Zapatero; Germany's Prime Minister Angela Merkel; French president Nicholas Sarkozy; Polish president Lech Kaczynsky and PM Gordon Brown among others will be present for the Lima summit. The Argentine press also points out that Correio Braziliense, the capital Brasilia main newspaper, "and which usually advances Planalto's positions" announced that next May 13 to 15 "Brasilia will be hosting a parade of European leaders en route to Lima". Among those named are Ms Merkel from Germany and Gordon Brown. British Embassy sources in Buenos Aires said that for "security reasons" the UK government does not advance the Prime Minister's travel plans. Mrs. Kirchner is interested in a private meeting with PM Brown to talk about the Falkland Islands and the Argentine claim to the islands. Apparently London sources said that Mr. Brown was prepared "to share coffee with Mrs. Kirchner when she traveled to London", a trip and a meeting that never happened. The last time a British PM and an Argentine president met was in May 2006 in Vienna during the EU/Latinamerica/Caribbean summit, but there was no private "cup of coffee". This week also the Argentine government prepared the ground in Lima by formally naming ambassador before the Peruvian government. He's expected to arrive sometime next week. According to the Buenos Aires press Mrs. Kirchner has appointments scheduled with the host President Alan Garcia and Ms Angela Merkel.