MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Distension: President C. Kirchner invites farmers “to talk”

In what seems a first positive approach Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner invited farmers' leaders to meet Monday afternoon in Government house (Casa Rosada) to “talk about all issues” related to the 103 day stand-off that began as a simple protest against taxes and became has turned into full blown political crisis.

However, government sources have advanced that the sliding export levies on oilseeds and grains implemented last March 11, --Resolution 125--, and which were finally sent for Congressional consideration last week will remain at the current percentages. Apparently the approach was made possible when farmers decided to end their road blocks and ban on the circulation of trucks loaded with grain and oilseed for export. Although the agenda for Monday has not been revealed, Mrs. Kirchner is calling on all Argentine sectors in preparation for the 200th anniversary of the May revolution, in 2010 which marked the beginning of the end of Spanish colonial rule. But farmers anticipated that wheat, beef, milk, regional economies and possibly an overview of the sliding export taxes will be on the table. Cabinet Chief Alberto Fernandez and the Executive Secretary General Oscar Parrilli were instructed on Saturday afternoon to contact the four leaders, Mario Llambías, Luciano Miguens, Fernando Gioino and Eduardo Buzzi for the Monday invitation, "She anticipated their (farmers) interview request and she's willing to talk about everything" according to unidentified sources reported in the Buenos Aires press. "Now with this new temperament expressed by the farmers organizations, we've recovered the democratic functioning", said Mrs. Kirchner. However behind Mrs. Kirchner is Mr. Kirchner the former president who after a 103 day conflict is contrary to have the government back step on its original tax decree. This means that in Congress, which this coming week will consider the bill sent by the Executive, he expects the majority will only yield to a few limited compensations to be awarded to small farmers. "There's no going back to March 10. Not for the big soybean planters". But the Kirchner camp has pragmatics that would like to agree on a quick end to the corroding conflict and are willing to accept reductions in the original percentages. These include vice president and president of the Senate Julio Cobos and representatives from some important farming provinces. Furthermore farmers don't trust the Argentine bureaucracy to implement effectively and on time the (discriminating) compensations for small farmers and reimbursement on certain costs. "Farmers have a long experience and don't trust these mechanisms", said farmers' sources, therefore "we will continue to lobby our elected representatives to convince them that the bill must be changed". Another week full of surprises for Argentine public opinion, because even when the conflict seems to be back on civilized railings and supplies of food are rapidly refilling supermarkets and stores, so is a new set of prices, and Argentine consumers most pressing problem, inflation.