MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mrs Kirchner proud that “God wanted me to be the president of the Bicentenary”

The Bicentenary Promenade in the heart of Buenos Aires City at the foot of the imposing Obelisk

Argentina begun Friday the bicentenary celebrations with the main stage mounted at the feet of the Obelisk in the capital Buenos Aires with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner marking the official launching of the several days events.

May 25 of 1810 signals the first milestone of Argentina’s independence process from the Spanish crown also known as the May Revolution. Six years later on 9 July 1816 the formal independence and creation of the Argentine state was confirmed.

“God wanted me to be the president of the Bicentenary” said Mrs. Kirchner to a multitude congregated on 9 de Julio Ave.

The president led the opening of the ceremonies with a rally on the main stage that was mounted on the Plaza de la República square. She was accompanied by her entire cabinet and she got emotional as she launched the celebrations.

From there, she communicated via walky-talky with the power plant in order to ask them to turn on the lights that are to illuminate the Paseo del Bicentenario (Bicentenary Promenade) during the next four days.

“The truth is that this is impressive. I'm proud to be able to launch the Paseo del Bicentenario in which all the Argentine provinces and the region's countries are represented” added Mrs Kirchner.

“I want to summon all Argentines to come here to experience this fantastic place. This is everyone's party. There will be tango, rock, and folk concerts given by our fellow Argentine artists, as well as by our Latin American compatriots,” she highlighted.

The celebrations that begun Friday evening will continue through next Tuesday, May 25 with a major parade of the different communities living in Argentina, traditional folk groups, schools and a military display.

Buenos Aires official sources said that United States President Barack Obama “warmly” congratulated Argentina for its Bicentenary celebration.

Argentina and the United States “share the same values as they both promote democracy and human rights, regional stability, and global security,” states the message sent by Obama to the Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, which was released by the US Embassy in Buenos Aires.

“We're proud of the lasting friendship we have forged as peoples and as nations” wrote Obama who highlighted that “during the last two centuries, the exceptional contributions of Argentina in all orders of human activity, from the arts to commerce, from science to sports, have conformed an extremely valuable cultural heritage.”

“The United States warmly congratulates Argentina in this Bicentenary celebration at the same time in which it vows for the work of both countries to continue in favour of narrowing even more the bilateral relationship,” the document reads.

The Bicentenary Promenade structure built all along Buenos Aires Main Avenue 9 de Julio (also considered the world’s widest avenue) has representations from the country’s 24 provinces -plus a 25th one, for the Argentine people living outside the country. At least two dozen countries adhering to the celebration are also present. The promenade will remain opened until May 25, the day of the 200th anniversary.

The invited nations that will take part in this event are: Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Uruguay, Peru, Italy, France, Spain, Paraguay, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia.