MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine farmers' conflict: extension of deadline considered

Argentine farmers and government representatives met late Monday in an undisclosed location and no information was available as to the terms and agenda of the much expected encounter with the new Economy minister Carlos Fernandez, but a new atmosphere seems to prevail.

With less than five days for the end to truce deadline on May 2, conciliatory statements from both sides and a new minister seem to forecast a more positive scenario for the talks which so far have proved frustrating and non conductive for the farmers. Differences remain in virtually all the issues considered so far and the only understanding regarding beef remains with terms unfinished because the Argentine government insists beef prices in Buenos Aires must return to their March levels before exports are reopened. Apparently early in the afternoon cabinet chief Alberto Fernandez contacted representatives from the four farmers' organizations participating in the talks for the new round of talks. However in the morning Justice minister Anibal Fernandez said that the controversial sliding export duties and which triggered the conflict "are untouchable", but he immediately added that "we must find the way to compensate those sectors harmed by asymmetries". Eduardo Buzzi president of the Argentine Agrarian Federation said he was optimistic about the new round of discussions with the incoming Economy minister but "the government must clear its act, it can't move forward and then backward, which is what has been happening so far". "If the incoming minister disciplines his office, he's the minister and the secretaries are his secretaries, I think we won't have much difficulties in overcoming the situation", said Buzzi. However camp representatives need something to show their grass roots if as it has been suggested there might be an extension of the deadline. "But we need clear signals from the government and some effective results to the long list of grievances farmers have presented and are claiming", said a farmers' leader.