Uruguay's First Lady says considering war with Argentina is ‘absurd’

After some controversial statements made by former Uruguayan president Tabaré Vázquez, the country’s First Lady Lucía Topolansky said considering a possible was with Argentina over the paper mill conflict is “absurd” and said it shouldn’t be more than a simple anecdote.

Topolonsky explained that Vázquez’s statements surprised her, adding that she hoped they didn’t have any “diplomatic repercussions.” 

“I hope this doesn’t complicate our relationship with Argentina. I hope the signals that our government has given the Argentine government are strong enough,” she stated.

Topolansky, who is also the most voted senator in the country, said that “the way to solve the conflict with Argentina was doing what President Mujica did, which is opening up the bridges.” 

Vice-President Danilo Astori refused to comment on the former president’s statements, as he urged citizens to “keep walking down the road created by Mujica.”

Former president Vázquez revealed on Tuesday that he was in office he considered the possibility of going to war with Argentina over a bilateral conflict sparked by the location of a paper mill on the Uruguay River. 

He even said he requested help from the US government.

Vázquez also said he held former Argentine president Néstor Kirchner responsible for escalating the conflict when he stated that the paper mill conflict “was a national cause” and hugged the protesters while Argentina and Uruguay were trying to find a solution to the stand off in Chile.