MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

CFK mentioned to Piñera the possibility of cutting the air link MPA-Punta Arenas

“We support Argentina’s rights” but also promote a bilateral dialogue with the UK, said the Chilean president

Chilean President Sebastián Piñera revealed that his Argentine counterpart Cristina Fernandez, CFK, mentioned the possibility of interrupting regular flights between the Falkland Islands and Chile, but “made no specific demand on the issue”.

“It is an issue which the Argentine president mentioned during our bilateral meeting in New York when the recent UN General Assembly, but she has not presented or made any specific petition regarding the issue”, said President Piñera when asked about the possibility of cutting the weekly Falklands air link with Chile which once a month calls in Rio Gallegos, Argentina.

Interviewed by La Nacion, Piñera who attended the swearing in ceremony of President Cristina Fernandez last Saturday said in a long interview that Chile fully supports Argentina’s rights over the Malvinas and other adjoining Islands based on legal and historic reasons, but at the same promotes a dialogue between Argentina and the UK to help find a definitive solution to the situation.

“The position of the Chilean government is clear and firm: we back and support the right of Argentina, on legal and historic reasons, over the Malvinas and other adjoining islands. We are promoting a dialogue between Argentina and the UK that will enable a definitive solution to the situation”.

The Chilean president also expressed his full confidence on “what is coming for Argentina” in the second mandate of President Cristina Fernandez emphasizing the moment has arrived to deepen bilateral relations not only regarding trade and investments.

“The first period for President Cristina Fernandez was very fruitful, impressive when you look at the numbers and facts”, added Piñera.

“We must also have physical integration, through bi-oceanic corridors and energy which are vital for development. This is something which demands the commitment from both presidents”, said Piñera.

Likewise the Chilean president said that Latin America “was better prepared than ever” to confront the international economic crisis. “Latin America learnt the lesson and today we have a continent with solid balances, growing and beginning a renaissance”.

Nevertheless next year is going to be difficult world-wide “All of this is going to have an impact on Latin American countries particularly those with great integration to the world, such is the case of Chile”.

Finally regarding the performance of this government and the poor public opinion polls Piñera emphasized his administration recovered growth capacity, investment, we created half a million jobs and kept inflation under control”.

But there is a segment “of Chilean society and in the rest of the world, even more severe and demanding in its requests that calls for immediate solutions to problems that date back decades”, argued the Chilean president.