Timerman replaces CFK for Paraguay Bicentenary

Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman arrived in Asunción today to accompany Paraguay’s president Fernando Lugo in the official celebrations for the Bicentenary of the country's independence, in place of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner who did not travel to Asunción as planned.

Presidential representative, Alfredo Scoccimarro communicated a message from the Presidential Medical Unit signed by doctors Marcelo Ballestero and Daniel Fernández, expressing that due to the present climate conditions in the Paraguayan capital, it would be unwise of the President to travel.

Fernández de Kirchner was supposed to take off from the military sector of Jorge Newbery Metropolitan airport, boarding a T-01 plane, arriving at 12.30PM to Paraguay’s “Silvo Pettirossi” airport, according to official sources.

Foreign Minister Timerman and government representatives were received by Argentine Embassador for Paraguay, Rafael Romá, and Paraguayan authorities on their arrival to the international airport.

Timerman and other Argentine officials watched the end of the military parade which took place along central Avenue Marical López. At lunchtime Lugo was holding a special lunch at the Presidential residence, at which Bolivia's President Evo Morales and Uruguay's President José Mujica would both be present.

Morales and Mujica also arrives in the morning to Asunción to accompany Lugo in the celebrations, where government representatives from 41 countries around the world were participating.