MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Buenos Aires Mayor wants to “re-establish relations with UK”

Gillian Merron from FCO meets Bs. Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri

Argentina is isolated internationally and “we want to re-establish relations with Britain and with the rest of the countries of the world” said Buenos Aires city mayor Mauricio Macri currently on a three day visit to London.

In a video released by Buenos Aires city hall, Macri who is considered a strong presidential candidate for 2011 said he was in London to "exchange experiences" but also "to re-establish relations with Britain where many things that happen in the world are decided". He added "the current Argentine government has frozen relations with Britain as it has with so many other countries in the world". Although Mr. Macri's visit originally was linked to the intention of attracting investments for Buenos Aires, he also met with a high ranking Foreign Office officer, Gillian Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office.During the interview Macri stated Argentina's position regarding the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty dispute and also mentioned some of the 70 projects planned for 2010, the 200th anniversary of the May revolution which marked the beginning of Argentina's independence from the Spanish empire. Macri in the video also mentions the fact that as mayor of Buenos Aires his purpose is to continue working with the city of London to see in what areas "we can exchange experiences and opportunities for both cities". "Regarding culture, I believe we are pairs but there are many fields where we are far behind and we want to learn, such as transport and environment protection". He also praised London's programs for schoolchildren with problems who need a special education, "and it has become more and more evident that we can't isolate them and they must be incorporated to normal schools". Macri travelled to London with a delegation of city officials and business people interested in opening new markets, according to his office. The conservative mayor of Buenos Aires belongs to a rich family linked to the auto industry and became an instant national figure when he was elected overpowering what was until then the undefeated President Nestor Kirchner electoral machine. Currently his political group is discussing with other ruling coalition dissenters the integration of an opposition convergence that could seriously challenge the Kirchner administration in next October's mid term congressional election.