'We have to try bring Argentina and the US closer,' Martínez

By Liliana Franco, from Mar del Plata

Very discreet and rather elusive with press, US Ambassador in Argentina Vilma Martínez spoke briefly with Ambito.com during a break in IDEA 47th annual colloquium. “We have to try and bring the US and Argentina closer, because we have several topics to work with jointly,” she said.

As Barack Obama’s administration business manager and when asked how she sees Argentina, Martínez replied that “it is a very interesting, very important country and and a very important rural power.”

Regarding the US economy, the Ambassador hoped that there’s a recovery as soon as possible, but admitted the process will be slow.

Martínez revealed that this is the first time she takes part in IDEA’s colloquium and was surprised by the assistance of important businessmen and by the level of the debates and workshops. It must be said that this year the event had several international showcases.

One imagines that the Ambassador of a first world country attends an event at least accompanied by advisers and security personnel, but Martínez hardly called attention on herself because she spent three days on her own. She did attend most of the showcases, wrote notes and sent messages from her BlackBerry smartphone, which probably was affected by troubles in the network, just as other users.

The relations between the US and the Government have hit several turbulent episodes- This week, Barack Obama’s administration announced it had foiled a an Iranian plot to commit significant terrorist attacks against the Saudi embassy in Washington and other Israeli and Saudi targets in Buenos Aires. US had allegedly warned Argentina of those attacks in several opportunities. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s administration didn’t confirm the reports, although there were mutual reproaches.

Months ago, Obama’s administration was deeply upset when a US military plane was seized at the beginning of the yes. The photograph depicting Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman opening security material forced the Pentagon to change passwords. The incident had such an impact that in March Obama said that when he met with President Cristina Fernández de Kichner he would ask her “to gives our equipment back.”

Later the Argentine Customs office concluded that there were no irregularities in the US military equipment, which was handed back in June.

After that incident, the relationship between both countries seemed to go back to a normal statu quo. However, when the US Congress decided to vote against the loans Argentina will request to the World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank in order to avoid them being granted, Argentina received it a slap in the face. The decision was announced by Marisa Lago, undersecretary of International Markets and Devolopment of the US treasury. Meanwhile, Argentine Finance Secretary Hernán Lorenzino said that the US decision wouldn’t affect 2012 loans.

Within this context, the ambassador’s call for unity and her lack of further mentioning it, can be explained. Nonetheless, Martínez couldn’t help but say she is finds it “moving that this country has serious interests in so many topics,” and that she is surprised by the amount of people that attends varied events such as La Rural and the Book Fair.