MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Timerman promises Congress support with alleged bribes investigation

Former Ambassador in Caracas Eduardo Sadous

Newly appointed Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman officially takes office Tuesday at a ceremony at Casa Rosada but already has a full table of issues. On Monday in a short release he stated that former Argentine ambassador to Venezuela Eduardo Sadous would ”brief Congress tomorrow (Tuesday), with all the freedoms and responsibilities that come with being a member of the Nation's diplomatic corps.”

By making this statement, the former ambassador in Washington clears doubts that may have arisen recently regarding Mr. Sadous' attendance on Tuesday following rumors he was being pushed not to attend the hearings before the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Timerman confirmed that Sadous would be present Tuesday in Congress to brief the Committee currently researching the alleged sale of agricultural machinery to Venezuela. The case described by the opposition as a corruption network involves very close aides of President Cristina Kirchner and her husband former president Nestor Kirchner, a “parallel” diplomatic office in Caracas and 15% “toll payments” to have deals authorized under a compensation account for Argentine-Venezuelan bilateral trade.

Mr. Timerman's statement comes after the head of the Victory Front caucus in the Lower House, Agustín Rossi, expressed Monday morning that Sadous' presence before the Committee posed no inconvenience to the Government.

“This being a matter related to diplomatic relations we are certain that members of the Lowe House will not use it for political gain,” Timerman explained in a communiqué.

Regarding this issue, the Minister's letter read that he was committed to work “thoroughly, with all parties in Congress involved.”

However opposition member Patricia Bullrich also raised her voice on Monday saying that the former Argentine Ambassador to the United States had “threatened” former Ambassador to Venezuela Eduardo Sadous within the framework of the Venezuelan bribe case.

On Sunday Timerman gave an interview to a newspaper and warned Sadous that he is not able to reveal confidential information on his upcoming brief in the Congress on his performance in the Foreign Ministry Ministry. Timerman assured that if Sadous revealed information he would be committing a crime.

Bullrich made a reference to Timerman's statements on Sadous and said: “Pressure is one of the worst things that are happening. Timerman is threatening Sadous.”

The Deputy went deeper on the matter and assured: “Timerman is using professional secrecy as a very complex cover strategy, showing not-transparent relations between Argentina and Venezuela.”

Bullrich went deeper on the issue and anticipated that several opposition officials are seeking to summon Taiana over for questioning in the Lower House within the framework of the Venezuelan case.

“We are going to summon him,” Bullrich assured. She added: “If he has had no conflict with the government for seven years and suddenly appears to have ‘irreconcilable differences,' we all have to know what is behind decision because he may help the investigation.”

The day he led what was to be his last rally as the head of the Foreign Ministry, Jorge Taiana authorized Sadous to attend a Foreign Relations Committee meeting at the Lower House to brief his accusations on the allegedly bribes Argentine businessmen had to pay in order to export goods to Venezuela

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is to lead the ceremony in which Timerman will officially replace stepped-from-his-post Taiana. The former minister unexpectedly resigned after seven years with the Kirchner couple because of policy focus differences and lack of support, according to the letter he addressed to the Executive.