MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina trying to arrange Obama-CFK meeting

Argentine diplomacy is looking forward to arrange a meeting between US President Barack Obama and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, CFK, and there are “good open chances” for such an event according to Deputy Foreign Affairs minister Victorio Tachcetti who next week begins a round of talks in Washington.

"The chances for a bilateral meeting are open and good" but no dates have been mentioned and even before that both sides will be holding "a round of high level meetings" to establish the agenda, added Taccetti. This week President Cristina Kirchner, who was on an official visit to Spain, received a hand written personal letter from US President Barack Obama thanking her for the congratulations on taking office, and expressing his willingness to "promote good relations" between both countries and to work together "in a range of challenges". Argentina was a bit anxious because President Obama had personally phoned Brazil's Lula da Silva, for a twenty minutes talk and inviting him to Washington, and later the phone rang in Chile for President Michelle Bachelet. The only previous contact of Mrs. Kirchner had been when Obama talked to her after winning the election. "What matters is the spirit and content of the letter, hand written", said enthusiastic Argentine officials who interpreted it as a strong message of support for Mrs. Kirchner, who nevertheless has been extremely critical of the United States as responsible for the origin of the current global crisis. Taccetti and Argentine ambassador in Washington Hector Timmerman will be discussing with US officials about the world crisis, strategies to address local impacts and reforms to the multilateral credit institutions plus how to create new jobs and instrument stimulus plans. "The crisis is an opportunity to work closer with the US, particularly since with Obama's inauguration speech we have many things in common regarding the current situation as well as exchanging ideas about regional events", said ambassador Timmerman speaking from Washington. The US side will be headed by Under Secretary for Hemispheric Affairs, Thomas Shannon, a legacy from the Bush administration who was invited to stay on the job at least until the coming Summit of the Americas to be held in Trinidad Tobago next mid April by President Obama's team. "Shannon is a good friend of Argentina and the region; this is something that normally happens. It's crucial to have someone who understands what we are talking about and understands the region's politics", said Taccetti. Shannon has been tipped in Washington as a possible US ambassador in Buenos Aires but Taccetti said the post "remains open" adding "no names have been advanced" as to who will be replacing Earl Wayne. Regarding the G-20 summit next April 2nd in London to discuss the financial crisis and global recession, with the participation of leaders from three Latinamerican countries, --Argentina, Brazil and Mexico-- Taccetti revealed there would be a previous meeting of all countries of the region with the purpose of receiving ideas and proposals to be shared in London. "The three countries will be listening very attentively to the rest of Latinamerica. We don't want the hemisphere to be represented in London by the vision of just three countries". Following the G-20 meeting in London hosted by PM Gordon Brown and which will be attended by US President Obama, two weeks later, April 17, 18 the three Latinamerican leaders will again meet with the man from the White House at the Americas summit in Trinidad Tobago.