MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cristina Fernandez thanks solidarity and calls on “all Argentines” to collaborate

The Argentine president proceeded with her agenda as any normal day

Argentine president Cristina Fernández spoke publicly on Wednesday for the first time since the announcement she will undergo cancer surgery in January and thanked all well-wishers, from government officials to members of the opposition and overseas leaders.

“One can dedicate their health to the country, yet still, it’s not enough,” stated the head of state, whilst also asking for “all Argentines to collaborate” during this time.

There was much anticipation ahead of the President Cristina Fernandez speech following the news she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Government members, ministers and provincial governors have been well-wishing the head of state ever since the official announcement on Tuesday night.

Cristina Fernandez revealed that the first foreign president to call her after announcing her state of health was Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, whom she thanked for his continuous support.

Furthermore, the President later thanked “all those who have demonstrated solidarity” toward the country and bid that all “Argentines collaborate” during this time, but “not for me, if not for all fellow countrymen and women, in order to keep growing as a country.”

She also asked for “prudence, balance and contribution” on the business sector and workers, requesting that everyone “collaborate” to “continue working with the utmost amount of trust possible” for Argentina.

“I’d like to ask that all Argentines work together so that we can acquire good salaries for our workers” underlined Cristina Fernández also stating that “in this country the amount of times we weren’t able to find a balance, or where we were able to find it; it became difficult to sustain”.

The Argentine president was proceeding with her agenda as any normal day, despite the recent announcement of her thyroid cancer.

Later on the head of state met with 18 province governors at Government House and where she announced the two-year extension of the Federal Debt-Reduction Plan for the provinces.

“We are going through with what was established previously, which is continuing with the policy of debt reduction, with the intention of refinancing the provinces that have higher unemployment” said Cristina Fernandez at a ceremony at the Government House.

The President stated that the deal was applied to seventeen provinces and works “in order to alleviate an average of almost 40% of debt reduction for all of the provinces.”

Afterward, the President led a ceremony where she issued medals to the top chiefs of the Armed Forces who were promoted recently after approval by the Senate.

Defence Minister, Arturo Puricelli, Brigadier Jorge Chevalier, General Luis Pozzi (head of the Army), Admiral Carlos Paz (head of the Navy), and brigadier Normando Costantino (head of the Air Force) were all present at the ceremony.