Thursday, June 2, 2011

CFK attends celebratory dinner hosted by President Napolitano

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner attended an exclusive concert and celebratory dinner hosted by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinale Palace in Rome. The Argentine head of State also met with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera for bilateral talks earlier in the day.

During the celebrations many special guests were invited including: the King of Spain Juan Carlos de Borbón, Israeli President Shimon Peres, member of the Palestine National Authority (ANP) Mahmud Abbas, Abdullah Gül of Turkey, and Chilean President Sebastián Piñera amongst others. Joe Biden, the vice president of the US was present, as well as his Chinese counterpart Xi JinPing.

Italian President Napolitano opened the celebrations with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, by placing a floral wreath onto the altar of the Vittoriano monument in the Venice square in Rome.

Fernández de Kirchner's meeting with President Sebastián Piñera was also in place to discuss border integration between Chile and Argentina, particularly to do with the agreements regarding financing of the ‘Paso de Agua Negra’ tunnel in Argentina's San Juan province.

The 'Paso de Agua Negra' is a high altitude routeway which crosses the border between Argentina and Chile through the Andes mountain range, but that remains restricted during the winter months due to heavy snow fall. The road pertains an altitude of 4780 metres above sea level.

Planning Minister Julio De Vido commented on the project saying, “the construction of the Paso de Agua Negra, will not compete with the Trasandino Tunnel, moreover, it will compliment the physical links in place with our Chilean neighbours.”

The meeting coincides with the celebrations both heads of State will be attending to do with the 150th anniversary of the Italian Unification, which is being commemorated today in Rome.

Earlier there had been reports that Fernández de Kircher was feeling unwell, resulting in her absence from the Italian Unification celebratory parade, which were quickly quashed by government representatives.

The Communications sub secretary and presidential spokesperson, Alfredo Scoccimarro “strictly” denied that the President’s absence was due to poor health.

“It’s a lie, and completely false information,” Scocciamarro confirmed to press, amidst the rumours that had been circulating.

“The President was working all morning and was not foreseen to participate in the parade, which is something that the Italian authorities were already aware of,” he added.