In a global context subject to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and during the United Nations General Assembly, Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero affirms that the country he represents “condemns the use of force”, despite Argentina’s proximity to the Kremlin.
The politician added, in an interview with the Voice of America, in New York, that the visit of the Argentine president, Alberto Fernández, to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, had no impact on the diplomatic relations that his country maintains.
VOA: Chancellor, what are those flag points that Argentina brings to the United Nations Forum? What do you expect from this high level week?
coffee: First, give a discussion regarding the impact that the war is having in the south, in Patagonia. The impact it has on all the countries of the South, on the emerging economies. Not only the call for a cessation of hostilities, but also the need to design tools to contain the increase in energy and food prices. This is causing serious damage from the point of view of food security in Latin America and the Caribbean (…) Naturally, in Argentina this year marks the 40th anniversary of the South Atlantic War, the Malvinas War. It will be a specific call to the United Kingdom to comply with the resolutions of 1965 here, of the Assembly of the United Nations, which indicated the need to join with Argentina to resolve the conflict of sovereignty of the islands.
VOA: Argentine President Alberto Fernández told his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that he wanted Argentina to become that gateway to Latin America. How has that relationship been strengthened? It was precisely this visit that made Washington a little uncomfortable. How does this situation affect the relationship between Argentina and the United States?
coffee: At all times it was understood that President Fernández was talking with another president, with Putin, it was a commercial link, not a link linked to other types of political relations, far from it (…) Argentina has practically no trade with Russia. With which, precisely what was sought was to stimulate a business environment and a commercial environment, not something else (…) What President Fernández raised in that meeting was the need to do cooperative work, technological or business links. But no, at no time was the subject of war touched upon. Let’s think that the war started 20 days later (…) I think it is important to point out that at no time did that harm the relationship with any other country with which Argentina has diplomatic relations. Argentina practices sovereign, dignified and friendly diplomatic relations, fundamentally.
In countries that are permanently thinking of resolving conflicts by force, these types of messages or statements are directly linked to geostrategic issues or, above all, weapons issues, and that is not the case. Argentina is a friendly country, that’s why Argentina has no duplicities. He condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, because Argentina condemns the use of force.
VOA: Precisely from the war in Ukraine a famine could be derived that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has already predicted on several occasions. In what way, in the short and medium term, could Argentina collaborate to face this situation, taking into account that it is the main wheat product?
coffee: Argentina is already fulfilling a fundamental role. We have increased our wheat exports this first semester by 60%. The sown area is an important sown area that has increased compared to the previous year. (…) What we also need is for it to be understood that food security must have a cooperative perspective.
VOA: And precisely another consequence: the economy. Argentina at this time has one of the highest stations in the world. How are you working to precisely deal with this, even though inflation is a global problem?
coffee: Inflation is a global problem. In Argentina it is hitting very hard. (…) Annually we have approximately 74% inflation. It is very high. We have many mechanisms that ensure that salaries do not lose against inflation, and family income does not lose against inflation. (…) Meanwhile Argentina has a very significant economic recovery. Last year Argentina grew by 10.3%. This first semester, Argentina grew by 6.3%. That is to say, it is true that it is a country that is having a lot of inflation, but it is also a country that has growth rates well above all those in the region.
VOA: At a commercial level with the United States, especially in technological matters, how is the balance at the moment?
coffee: The trade balance with the United States is in deficit by 900 million dollars, but we have very dynamic sectors (…) 50% of the export of knowledge-based services come to the United States, with which they have managed to pierce the American market.
That is very powerful because it generates many jobs in our country, jobs linked to the Knowledge Economy Law that President Fernández made, where tax exemptions or tax benefits are given to companies in the economy and knowledge sector.
VOA: On climate change, what are those immediate challenges?
coffee: We held a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) (…) We have to take a unified position from Latin America and the Caribbean. We will be working on that.
VOA: And what are those essential points?
coffee: There are several points. The main one is the financing of the energy transition (…) That is fundamental, because all our countries are countries that are environmental creditors, the vast majority. And, above all, they are countries that are not responsible for the impact of climate change. (…) So we need differentiated instruments. We want to make the transition to renewable energies. We want to make the transition towards carbon neutrality commitments in 2050.
* Adaptation of the interview in text format made by Júlia Riera. You can watch the full interview in the video below:
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