MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lipotimia bout forces Cristina Kirchner to postpone trip to Cuba

Argentina's president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, suffering from an acute bout of low blood pressure has been forced to postpone for a week her planned visits to Cuba and Venezuela that should have begun this Sunday, according to reliable government sources reports the Buenos Aires media

Her condition has already obliged her to cancel two rallies, Thursday and Friday, in the outskirts of Buenos Aires plus much expected announcements for farmers regarding export taxes and drought relief. Former president Nestor Kirchner and Cristina's husband described the situation as "nothing serious", a case of "dehydration because of the torrid temperatures in Buenos Aires at this time of the year". He added she was following medical indications which recommendation of 48 hours rest. "We're penguins (from the south of Argentina), we're not used to the heat" said Mr. Kirchner who was present at the two rallies his wife was unable to attend. However late Friday government sources said the trip leaving Buenos Aires Saturday evening had been postponed a week to January 17, basically with the same program, which means Caracas on January 21st. The Argentine news agency DYN said Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Taiana had contacted his Cuban counterpart, but the Cubans said "not to worry, we'll meet next Sunday 18th". The presidential medical team said in a release that Mrs. Kirchner must remain resting until she recovers from the "lipotimia and dehydration episode" suffered earlier this week. The rest period recommended is 48 hours and "no travelling until new tests are done". Foreign Affairs ministry sources said Cuban President Raul Castro sent a personal message to Mrs. Kirchner wishing her a quick recovery and "feel no remorse for the postponement of the visit, since what matters is your recovery".