MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
“Our democracy is young, but nor fragile” ambassador Castro tells the FT
Following the publication of an article in the British press under the heading of “Democracy in Argentina dented by mysterious murder”, Argentine ambassador in London Alicia Castro, sent a letter to the editor of the Financial Times basically arguing that “our democracy is young, but not fragile” and describing the article as “most groundless and offensive” accusation. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesWell, that was a wasted 5 minutes of my life, I'll never get back again.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 07:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0* takes big yawn*
Bwahahaha Alicia
Feb 11th, 2015 - 07:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0The term 'flawed democracy' is the one used by a major index isn't it ?
Feb 11th, 2015 - 07:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index
As for “rogue” Argentina has been that since 1816
Argentina has supposedly had democratic constitutions dating back to its independence almost 200 years ago.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 08:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0So how the hell is it still a young democracy?
The state I live on wasn't even founded when Argentina declared independence and yet we have managed to have continual democracy and regular elections for over 150 years.
Indeed, Victoria is the birthplace of the first truly secret ballot when it introduced preprinted ballots in 1857 that guaranteed a voter couldn't be identified in any manner.
Perhaps if greedy and unscrupulous Argentineans didn't keep created military dictatorships then Argentina wouldn't have to go around claiming that they are a young democracy.
Alicia, why is Argentina rated down in 107th position by the Global Corruption Perception Index? (Uk is 14th, Chile and Uruguay 21st) why is Argentina so corrupt?
Feb 11th, 2015 - 08:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0But no comment on Top Gear, wonder if she watched the two episodes?
Feb 11th, 2015 - 08:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0oh she does talk a lot of crap
Feb 11th, 2015 - 08:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0Well if you think of the many dictatorships she referred to as time outs, that haven't needed to be taken in other uninterrupted democracies, perhaps at a stretch you could see Argentina as a 'young' democracy .....though certainly the number of such interruptions suggests a systemic fragility, doesn't it?
Feb 11th, 2015 - 10:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0So the crux of her letter is “ The independent judiciary works fine when it is being directed by us , but not when they decide to point the spotlight at us ” .
Feb 11th, 2015 - 10:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0These people keep harping on about the civil war of 40 years ago hoping that the world won't notice that today kids are dying of malnutrition , something that never happened under ANY previous government , even military ones .
Yadda yadda yadda . . .
Feb 11th, 2015 - 10:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Pay up - you deadbeats.
”Our country is a dynamic and progressive democracy, as are all the democracies in our Region, united in upholding the values of Peace, Truth and Justice”.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 10:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0',,upholding the values of Peace, Truth and Justice.' That is except when it comes to dealings with The Falkland Islands, then anything goes.
So she admits it “Our democracy is young, but nor fragile” ambassador Castro tells the FT . Falkland Islanders are obviously much more mature because we don't have a fragile democracy ours is a clear sound one. How much more advanced our small Country is compared to Argentina. We have never had to kill or bully anyone to get where we are.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 10:45 am - Link - Report abuse 01) you are absolutely right. Just wonder whether she actually believes the nonsense that comes out of her mouth.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 10:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0Its about as fragile as it gets. Little separation of powers between legislative, executive and judicial functions of Government, highly restricted freedom of the press and complete intolerance to dissent. Not fragile my a***.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 10:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0Mrs Castro: SHUT UP.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 10:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina has being around for 200 years, stop telling that `young´ lie. We are not suffering from `inexperience´ here, we are suffering from a very experienced corruption (your gov is a master on that field).
Dear
Feb 11th, 2015 - 11:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0Alicia Castro, Ambassador of Argentina
get lost.
Is Cretina's neck more like that of a turkey or a buzzard?
Feb 11th, 2015 - 11:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0Our judicial system boasts a well established reputation for delivering justice in complex cases.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 11:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0(Until it comes time to investigate some hotels in the South of Argentina).
Poor Alicia. When she first arrived in the UK, she shambled in a lop-sided manner. With one hand she trailed the obligatory trolley dolly wheelie case (face putty, hair dye, nappies, incontinence pants) and in the other hand she hefted her 'Book of Scripts'.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 11:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Prosecutor Alberto Nisman’s tragic death, which is currently under judicial investigation, neither dents nor puts Argentina’s democracy at risk.” She's RIGHT. Who's ever seen or heard of a democratic cesspit?
“For the first time in Argentina’s history we have enjoyed 30 years of continuous democracy. Our democracy is young, but not fragile.” No doubt explains the vote buying and rigging.
“Mr. Rathbone also states that “no Argentine” believes the case will be solved.“ Of course it will be solved. It just takes time to decide who will be fitted up and manufacture the 'evidence'.
”Our judicial system boasts a well established reputation for delivering justice in complex cases.“ No doubt explaining why a judge had to be ordered to take the case. If he's not keen, what 'justice' will he dispense? A case where the prosecutor was getting too close to CFK. That's why he died.
”Mr. Rathbone’s assertion that there is “a conspiracy” involving the Argentine state to prevent the case from being solved is entirely false: President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has taken all necessary steps to facilitate the judicial investigation, among them, the opening of all classified intelligence files possibly related to this investigation.” Yeah, right. For anyone that believes this, I have a 200mph chocolate car for sale that uses no fuel. Only £100,000!
“To describe Argentina as a “flawed democracy” or a “rogue state” is a most groundless and offensive accusation. Our country is a dynamic and progressive democracy, as are all the democracies in our Region, united in upholding the values of Peace, Truth and Justice”. The correct term is 'pariah state'. How do you uphold such values when you don't understand the words?
She should be kicked out of the UK ,
Feb 11th, 2015 - 11:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0OK. Let me splain it to you.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 11:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0The error is not in calling it a flawed democracy.
The error is in calling it a democracy at all.
@20 Briton
Feb 11th, 2015 - 11:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0God no, just think for a minute - if Ambush Alicia represents the top flight of Argentine diplomatic capacity then do you really want to see who'd be their second choice. Vlad the impaler?
20. I agree that she should be kicked. I'm just not for sure if she should be deported though.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 12:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0mmmmm lol cheers.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 12:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Who is she kidding?
Feb 11th, 2015 - 12:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The full text of the letter is as follows:
Feb 11th, 2015 - 12:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Dear Sir:
I have to disagree with John Paul Jones article 'Inflight Delights in Areolineas Argentinas' dented by mysterious menu choices (Comment, February 6th). The current lack of both chicken and beef, which is currently under judicial investigation, neither dents nor puts Areolineas Argentinas at risk. As Argentines we have lived for many years under cruel menu choices, many of them supplanted by foreign poultry and we are well aware of the value of beef. For the first time in Argentina’s history we have enjoyed 30 years of continuous bullshit.
Our democracy is chicken, but not fishy. (Much!)
Signed, Alicia Castro, Ambassador of Argentina.
Royal Navy ready to take action in S China Sea: UK minister
Feb 11th, 2015 - 01:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20150211000017
China's nationalistic Global Times meanwhile made a direct link between Hammond's remarks regarding its maritime interests to the agreement signed between Beijing and Buenos Aires
This agreement allows China to sell warships, armored personnel carriers and military aircraft to Argentina. China will also assist Argentine Navy to build a fleet of Malvinas-class corvettes, which could be considered a provocation to London, Global Times said
Philip Hammond,
the British foreign secretary, said in Singapore on Jan. 30 the nation's armed forces are ready to take action in the Asia-Pacific
Alicia Castro
wont like this,
more letters in the post.
Perfect example of the best and brightest the country has to offer.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 01:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Idiocracy.
YB? Idiocracy, that was a film about Argentina right? Look it up!
Feb 11th, 2015 - 02:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Hammond, good accountant, terrible defence secretary and incompetent foreign secretary.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 03:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0This awful witch is an apologist for Latam's version of Robert Mugabe .
Feb 11th, 2015 - 05:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The K regime enrich themselves whilst kids in the North of the country starve to death .
Provincial governors appropriated medical aircraft belonging to their provinces to take them to the World Cup in Brazil , leaving critically ill patients to die .
Kretina has an air force plane deliver the newspapers to her palace in Calafate every day , even though she isn't there , not bad for a supposedly broke country.
They don't care what ecological damage they do mining and overplanting soy bean so long as they line their pockets .
State sanctioned murder ( Not just Nismans )
Democracy my arse ....
The fuse is lit-
Feb 11th, 2015 - 06:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0the worlds on course to fire and hell,
nations panic / the Germans and French are nervous,
the rest of Europe are counting the cost,
Britain on the other hand, relaxed , cool , and looking forward to the referendum...lol
Alicia Castro's letter is a tactful, diplomatic response to a garbage op-ed bashing the Argentine government and its alleged involvement in the Nisman affair in the last few weeks in a most partial way.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 06:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Mr. Rathbone's column does not do anything else than recycling information from Clarin and La Nacion, without showing the high-level reasoning you would expect from a newspaper such as the Financial Times.
But then, bashing on a government that strays from the received wisdom of the international finance (keep borrowing in horrendous conditions while starving your people as IMF preaches) is the sport of the day for the defenders of the status quo.
The chorus of those jumping to conclusions on the Nisman affair while indulging on demeaning comments not only about a particular government but about a whole country as we can read in this forum is one good example of this irrational hatred.
There is a price to pay for Argentina being Argentina, as there will be a price to pay tomorrow for Greece being Greece.
The IMF?
Feb 11th, 2015 - 07:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It's 2015. Get over the past.
33. Do you read any of the prattle that is attributed to your username? Alicia is a hack. Her response is simplistic to the point of insult and denies the realities of matters on the ground. Line up with the other trolls. Rathbone's trash is a lenient, enabling ramble that really let's rotting roadkill and the rotting roadkillians off of the hook. You are OUTED. You are soft on K and the perronista line.
Feb 11th, 2015 - 07:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0P.S. Hatred isn't irrational if it's based on substantial experience with a nation, culture and people that revel in self victimization and injure the rest of the world with impunity.
Troll.
tomorrow for Greece being Greece,
Feb 11th, 2015 - 07:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0mmmm
but it was Germany and France that bent the rules to allow Greece to enter, was it not,
let them pay the price .
Hey Briton, did you watch Merkel nuckle under to Putin? I thought that was kind of telling. Hell they're former allies!
Feb 11th, 2015 - 07:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Nothing beats listening to Cristina and his army of perpetual clappers on a Wednesday night!
Feb 11th, 2015 - 10:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I will have to resort to that cheap scotch and nail polish mix that my shrink recommended for this kind of situations.
Petloleum and Lice - A must watch, very funny.................
Feb 11th, 2015 - 11:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1767341-la-acida-burla-de-john-oliver-a-cristina-kirchner-por-su-tuit-sobre-china
“To describe Argentina as a “flawed democracy” or a “rogue state” is a most groundless and offensive accusation. Our country is a dynamic and progressive democracy, as are all the democracies in our Region, united in upholding the values of Peace, Truth and Justice”.
Feb 12th, 2015 - 12:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0WTF? Even the UN describes Argentina as a flawed democracy.
39 Britworker
Feb 12th, 2015 - 12:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0Thx for that - She's a dumkopf!!
Our country is a dynamic and progressive democracy, as are all the democracies in our Region, united in upholding the values of Peace, Truth and Justice”.
Feb 12th, 2015 - 01:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0Is she including Vnzla in that?
Maduro now rules by decree, and has just signed over permission for the Army to fire live rounds at any protesters, (peaceful of otherwise), that might “threaten the revolution”
The Socialist Paradise authorises the killing of its own citizens engaged in peaceful protest?
Live Fire into crowds of innocent people is now Legal!!!!!
Is this what she aspires to?
42. What a f_cked up world we live in... The military dont like Maduro but nobody wants his job.
Feb 12th, 2015 - 01:16 am - Link - Report abuse 043. agreed.
Feb 12th, 2015 - 02:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0Maduro gave the military a 47% pay rise last year, in the expectation of loyalty...
But with inflation running at 73%, (or is it over 100% now, who knows)?, that doesn't look so great.
He is now, basically, by giving permission, asking them to kill their own kinsfolk, if 'necessary'.
The Bastard.
He has tried to buy them before. Obviously a General has a higher wage, (and power, and access to the narco-mercado), than your average soldier.
Vnzla has over 5,000 Generals.
Just to give some contrast, the USA has approx 500 active service Generals in the Army, Airforce and Marines at anytime.
I am sure you don't need little ol' me to explain the difference in size of the US Armed Forces and Venezuela's...
Maduro~Mas-Burro.
Official US$/BSF is 6.3
'Blue' US$/BSF 190.7 (fluctuating daily)
see dolartoday.com - this is what Vnzlns use.
Makes the Argentine Peso look pretty good...
Previously the Maduro regime said that it 'only' needed the oil-price to be $65 per barrel.
Well, it just ain't so, anymore.
Some commentators say they need it to be $100, the FT and The Economist have said Maduro needs at least $117-120.
I give Vnzla 3 more months before the chaos and carnage starts.
Four more of my extended family are in Europe, and some cousins have relocated to Colombia.
Many people are going to Chile too.
We just do not see the true suffering and day to day hardships of the people.
Feb 12th, 2015 - 03:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0Icant imagine how families eat work survive.
Skip writes: “Argentina has supposedly had democratic constitutions dating back to its independence almost 200 years ago. ”
Feb 12th, 2015 - 06:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0Sorry, but no.
The first Argentine constitution dates only back to 25 september 1860, when the Federal Republic og Argentina finally came into existence.
This 'Argentina Embrionaria' - Proto-Argentina - had not yet butchered almost the entire indigenous population, nor stolen the provinces Formosa, Chaco and Misiones from Paraguay, nor parts of Patagonia from Chile, and thus consisted of on about one third of present day Argentina.
There were other, earlier, constitutions but they were local and only valid for one of the factions in the long lasting civil war (1814 to 1860 and sporadically continued until 1880).
44. Where does Diosdado Cabello really stand with the Generals?
Feb 12th, 2015 - 12:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 037@
Feb 12th, 2015 - 01:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0today they have an agreement,
we will see just how long this ceasefire lasts,
Putin will just use it to re-organise things before the next offensive..
@47
Feb 12th, 2015 - 04:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is pretty hard to tell. It is all mired in secrecy and backroom deals.
Acting like a Mafia Godfather mostly. Money or the bullet. Loyalty or death.
I am sure a large swathe want him gone, but for what reasons, we shall see....
Diosdado Cabello is the the most powerful politician, and most powerful man in Vnzla. He has at various times been head of the PDVSA (nationalised oil company), Chief Economic Minister, Leader of the (unicameral) Senate, head honcho of PSV (chavista), Hugo Chavez' No. 2, is currently the 'eminence grise' behind Maduro and is best-buddies with the Castros.
He holds a military title and has been awarded medals....
He has a spiders web of power and influence in every sector of state and society. Ideologically he believes the State and Society should become one revolutionary entity, (with him and his cabal giving the orders of course).
He has also become dispropotionally wealthy during his time in politics and is thought to be one of the top guys in the narco-traffiking 'Sun Cartel'.
He has been sanctioned by the USA for stashing illegal gains in Chicago and Miami, and for Human Rights Abuse.
I think some Generals love him, some hate him but are getting favours and enrichment, and a few really loathe him but are biding their time and waiting to see which way the wind blows as currently he is an 'Emperor'...
He was the main-player in the call for the politicisation of the military and the the demand for the Oath of Allegiance to The Bolivarian Revolution.
He is making mistakes though. Having 5,000 Generals obviously dilutes the status of being a General. When everybody's brother, schoolfriend and Uncle Joe is a General the level of influence they hold surely diminishes. And the militar officer-class has always held sway in Vnzla.
I don't think they will rebel just yet. Not whilst they can line there pockets. However, give it 3-6 months for the oil-price to kick in and we will see rumblings of discontent I am sure.
49.
Feb 12th, 2015 - 06:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Seems like House of Cards.
Have the Cubans sided with Diosdado Cabello then?? Surely you must recall that in early 2013 the leaked audio of Mario Silva to the Cuban G2, one would assume from them that the power struggle was between Cabello and the Cubans with Venezuelan poodles like Silva and that Maduro was just Castro’s puppet.
That being said the situation may have shifted significantly by now
I guess that if Cuba is moving towards the US for finance then there is no longer need to be involved in Venezuelan politics to keep up the life support of the Island or Cabello must guarantee the Cubans the money and oil they need.
@17
Feb 13th, 2015 - 09:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Is Cretina's neck more like that of a turkey or a buzzard?”
Neither-it's like a Turkey Vulture's neck-but hard to tell the difference between the options you have given.
D Cabello is very close with the Cubans, totally involved with bringing 50, 000 Cuban 'advisors' into the country.
Feb 14th, 2015 - 04:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0However, how could he have not known that the Cubans were 'selling out' to the Great Satan all this time?
It has left Maduro, his protege, looking very stupid.
My opinion is, that Cabello himself 'sold-out' on the 'bolivarian-revolucion' a long time ago, and only seeks self-enrichment and power. His words are long, and his pockets are deeper.
As they say, Follow The Money.
Especially the Sun Cartel.
He is a seriously dangerous man, I am glad I am posting this from London.
He is that much of a bad-ass. He can make people 'dissappear' and does so frequently.
Ceasefire tonight, and the Russian backed army is going hell for leather to gain as much ground before it comes in,
Feb 14th, 2015 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0someone is going to have egg on ones face if it all goes pear-shaped.
@50 CD2
Feb 17th, 2015 - 02:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0The riots are starting again.
This year is gonna get nasty in Vnzla. i am actively involved in trying to get people out of there.
Best route is by road to Colombia and then flights from Bogota,
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