ARGENTINA: Venezuelan President Chavez signs agreements with Argentine president Kirchner as anti-Bush protests kick off

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with Argentine President Nestor Kirchner on Friday (March 9) as part of his two-country tour - timed to coincide with U.S. President George W. Bush's visit to Latin America. While Kirchner steers clear of Chavez's anti-Bush rhetoric, both leaders question Washington-backed free-market policies and share a vision of greater regional cooperation between leftist governments. The two presidents signed a raft of energy and agro-industry accords during their meeting in the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. President Chavez said Venezuela's relationship with Argentina would help it move away from its dependence on petroleum: Argentina and Venezuela have been ramping up their friendly relations in recent weeks. Venezuela bought billions of dollars in Argentine debt in the form of bonds and also recently bailed out an ailing Argentine dairy cooperative to keep it from being bought by a private investment fund. They have also signed an energy cooperation agreement. The deals have helped Argentina reduce their dependence on Washington-based multilateral lenders such as the IMF. Bush's five-nation tour, which began in Brazil on Thursday (March 8), is seen by many as an attempt to counter the growing influence of Chavez in a region where anti-American sentiment is strong, especially among the legions of poor. Chavez, Washington's leading critic in the region, plans to lead thousands of supporters on Friday evening in a soccer stadium rally in Buenos Aires coinciding with Bush's arrival in neighboring Uruguay. Dozens of protesters gathered on the streets of Buenos Aires chanting anti-Bush slogans and burning American flags. The protesters gathered outside the Uruguayan embassy and set several U.S. flags alight, angry that President Bush will touch down just across the River Plate in Uruguay on Friday evening. Polls show that throughout Latin America there is widespread opposition to the Iraq war and U.S. trade and immigration policies.

ITN Source | March 10, 2007

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