MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cristina plans to celebrate May 25th with Lula da Silva and Lugo

Pte. CFK: Building bridges with neighbours

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will celebrate the May Revolution National Day in a city bordering Brazil and Paraguay where she expects to hold a presidential meeting with her peer-neighbours, according to the Buenos Aires press.

But Casa Rosada sources are not so enthusiastic and caution that the meeting with Brazil’s Lula da Silva and Paraguay’s Fernando Lugo still needs confirmation on several issues.

According to the official agenda President Cristina de Kirchner will be heading the celebrations on May 25th in the city of Puerto Iguazú next to the world famous falls. That day in 1810, known as the May Revolution is considered the first landmark in the struggle for Argentine independence from the Spanish empire, confirmed six years later in July 1816.

Puerto Iguazú, 1.100 norths of Buenos Aires and close to the so called triple border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay have often hosted presidential meetings and Mercosur summits.

According to Argentine government sources the participation of Brazil’s Lula da Silva is virtually confirmed, however Paraguay’s Lugo has pending issues with Brazil regarding the price and availability of surplus power generated at the world’s largest operational hydroelectric dam of Itaipú.

Paraguay has a similar situation with another dam Yaciretá, shared with Argentina and also claims the Cristina Kirchner administration has imposed arbitrary protectionist measures on Paraguayan exports, in spite of the Mercosur customs union which allegedly promotes intra-trade.

Last year Mrs. Kirchner celebrated the May Revolution anniversary in the northern city of Salta and for next year, bicentenary of the 1810 event, a full calendar of festivities has been programmed.

Traditionally May 25th was commemorated in the capital Buenos Aires with a Te Deum at the Cathedral and a military parade. However Cristina’s husband and former president Nestor Kirchner (2003/2007) began rotating the celebration to different cities of the country.

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