Foreign Minister Malcorra’s analysis of President Macri’s trip. Also, statements on Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador

“We have obtained alternatives that create opportunities to take our products to other places; and, at the same time, we want to strengthen access to certain markets. Both in China and in Japan, as well as in the first stop in the United Arab Emirates, President Macri was very well received by the Governments and the business sector,” explained Foreign Minister Malcorra in press statements to Radio La Red and Radio 10, when she arrived in Buenos Aires this morning after President Macri’s trip to Asia.

“When we talk about Argentina’s smart insertion in the world, this is what we mean: having options, because a partner or a market may have problems at any time, and having alternatives affords us the tranquillity that we will not experience shocks that impact our economy,” explained the head of Argentine diplomacy.

“Both in China and in Japan, for example, very important agreements for the agro-industry sector were signed. As regards China, they will set up in Argentina their equivalent to SENASA (National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service), which will greatly speed up the product approval process. In Japan there was a great deal of progress in approving beef from Patagonia, which is free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination,” stated Malcorra.

As regards China, Malcorra underscored: “It is an economy that has the power to fund projects, which we also need, and we found many fields in which we can supplement each other’s work. The relationship between President Macri and President Xi Jinping has become stronger and that helps when we want to open up to the world.”

“Over the course of five weeks, we have met with President Trump, the Italian President came to Argentina, and we were received by the President of China and the Prime Minister of Japan. We are talking about almost 50% of the global GDP. And they are opening their doors to us; we are having a productive dialogue both between governments and among business sectors. This is a clear opportunity and we are firmly convinced that we should take it,” she stated.

BRAZIL

As regards Brazil, Foreign Minister Malcorra underscored: “We have to be very careful when the institutions are working. We cannot interfere and give our opinion from the outside with very little first-hand information. We have to be willing to collaborate if there is anything we can do, but for now we have to let the systems work and work promptly.”

“Anything that happens in a country with the weight Brazil has in the region, and the bond it has with Argentina in particular, has a political impact that makes us closely follow the process and be actively concerned,” she added.

“From the point of view of institutions, which we cannot disregard, the events taking place are happening because there is a very strong separation of powers, and a solid judicial branch that is undertaking this process thoroughly. Notwithstanding the difficult part, this shows that Brazil is a solid country in this regard. We hope that institutions can clarify and settle all this as soon as possible, because extending this situation is not good either for Brazil or for anyone.”

“Brazil’s Constitution sets forth that the Vice-president succeeds the President, and it does not provide a mechanism for early direct elections, which is, in my opinion, one of the issues under debate in Brazil now. I said it back then and I repeat it now: this is not a debate on legality. It could be a debate on legitimacy, but clearly institutions have been respected. If apart from that, and at the same time, there is an investigation showing that these people who participated in the institutional process have been involved in corrupt practices, that is a different debate.”

VENEZUELA

“It has definitely walked away from a democratic model, because one of the principles of democracy is the separation of powers. This was evidenced when the judiciary made decisions on the Assembly, even if the decision was later reversed, because it was reversed due to a request of the executive branch; then it was clear that all branches are stepping on each other’s turf,” Malcorra underscored.

ECUADOR

“I am travelling to Ecuador tomorrow. I will go earlier for a series of meetings and the President will go later to attend the inauguration ceremony of president elect Lenín Moreno, who has won in completely transparent elections,. The inauguration ceremony will be held on Wednesday. Ecuador has a role that, in our opinion, can strike a balance with Venezuela.”

Press release No. 198/17
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