MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Malvinas war was a “battle” of ongoing claim, says CFK

Naomi praised Cristina's good taste and extravaganza

The Malvinas war was but a “battle” for the ongoing Argentine claim over the Falkland Islands which has the support of the world's citizenship and Margaret Thatcher, as a citizen of a world military power “will never be able to hide the fact the UK is a colonial country in the XXI century”.

The words belong to Argentina's president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner from an interview with British model Naomi Campbell last January to be published in the September edition of the GQ men's magazine under the title "Naomi in Argentina". The four pages article begins comparing Mrs. Kirchner with Mrs. Hillary states: "A lawyer turned First Lady who became President? Argentina's Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has achieved what Hillary Clinton could only dream of. But now that she's staking a claim on the Falklands, Is it about to all go wrong?" Ms Campbell says CFK is known for her expensive tastes and extravagant spending in exclusive models, which becomes a problem "when you are trying to show the electorate and the world that you are capable of managing a country which faces a potential financial ruin". Mrs. Kirchner also talks about her administration's close links with Venezuela' Hugo Chavez, whom Naomi mentions she had also interviewed. "I interviewed Chavez some time ago but overseas there seems to be a feeling of non understanding towards him. What is Argentina's position? "President Chavez has a close friendly relation with Argentina; he was elected democratically with an ample margin and we respect that?Latinamerica needs Chavez as much as Europe needs (Russian president) Putin", was the reply. However, one of the most interesting passages refers to the Falklands, Argentina's "official claim stance" and the need to "distract attention" from the problems currently burdening Argentina. Ms. Campbell asks CFK why Argentina is claiming the Falkland Islands. "Our sovereignty claim over the Malvinas is evidence of the issue for world citizenship. Great Britain has systematically refused in spite all the calls from the United Nations, to even consider the issue. It's a shameful colonial enclave in the XXI century". Further on when asked her opinion about Margaret Thatcher and her leadership during the 1982 conflict, CFK says that "I think she should know that what she has won is a battle. She's the citizen of a great military power, but she will never be able to hide the colonial condition of UK in the XXI century". Ms Campbell also mentions another paradigmatic moment of the bilateral relation: the so called "hand of God" goal of Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico which left England out. "Do you think you should apologize to England for having eliminated us from the Cup? "Look, I'm a fan of Gimnasia y Esgrima from La Plata because of my mother, but I don't know much about football. Nevertheless I don't think I should apologize for something that happened in a football match" was the quick answer. And what about CFK difficult relation with the Argentine press? "I have my own convictions and stand by them using what I consider are the best arguments. I'm not a person who likes using adjectives: when I speak I refer to figures, information, numbers, facts because I think Argentina has seen many adjectives manipulated, and virtually no arguments". Finally what are the chances of (husband) Nestor Kirchner becoming president again for a second mandate following her four year mandate? "In politics you can't plan in advance as if on a chess board?let us not insult the intelligence of readers", concludes the Argentine president.