MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina furious with Uruguay's veto to Mr. Kirchner

Uruguay stamps a new political setback for the Kirchners

Argentina described as “injurious” Uruguay's decision not to support former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner candidacy to the chair of the Union of South American Nations, Unasur, in spite of the fact he was virtually the only hopeful.

According to Argentina's news agencies sources close to Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana, Uruguay's attitude "is considered as injurious towards the Argentine people, towards Unasur and to the countries that support the candidacy of the former president". The Uruguayan government vetoed former president Kirchner's postulation for Unasur chairman since his tolerance with the pickets blocking a bridge linking the neighbouring countries "leaves no margin to support his candidacy" said reliable sources from the administration of President Tabare Vazquez. "It's a conflict difficult to understand, the Kirchners have not had towards Uruguay the respect this government deserves", added the sources, "particularly the patience displayed by President Vazquez towards the inadmissible situation, tolerated by the Kirchners, of a two year border blocking by pickets". "Uruguay does not support Mr. Kirchner's candidacy and Unasur decisions are by consensus. That is why the October summit of Unasur scheduled to take place in Chile was suspended" was the verbal announcement to the press from the Uruguayan ministry of Foreign Affairs, "a decision that has the full support of the whole Uruguayan political spectrum". Uruguay's Foreign Affairs minister Gonzalo Fernandez informed opposition leaders on Wednesday of the country's decision and sent a letter to Chilean president Michelle Bachelet who currently holds the pro-tempore presidency of Unasur. "It's a question of dignity, we can't back Mr. Kirchner who has tolerated the blocking of international bridges by pickets protesting the construction of the Finnish pulp mill Botnia, one of Uruguay's major investments in recent years", said Jorge Larrañaga, head of the opposition. Another opposition Senator, Jorge Abreu, an expert in international affairs added that Argentina has also deliberately refused to dredge the Martin Garcia canal linking the River Plate and the River Uruguay, along which the barges loaded with pulp from Botnia are shipped to the rest of the world. Former minister and Senator Didier Opertti from the junior opposition party said "Mr. Kirchner offers no guarantees". Uruguayan authorities received the formal proposal for Mr. Kirchner as Unasur chairman a few days ago. The former Argentine leader has been sponsored by President Rafael Correa from Ecuador, but the letter was remitted from Chile, because Ms Bachelet is acting president of the group. Minister Fernandez consulted with President Vazquez but the decision apparently had already been taken since in September Uruguayan officials met with President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Mr. Taiana in New York during the annual UN assembly, and according to Uruguayan sources the Argentines had promised to solve the "pickets" question in the coming weeks. But since there was no political decision or court order to remove the pickets, "the Uruguayan government considered the situation sufficiently debated". "How can Uruguay support Mr. Kirchner for a regional organization when as president he was unable to abide by Mercosur's clear rules regarding the free circulation of people and goods?" insisted Uruguayan sources.