The chancellor Omar Paganini He traveled this Friday to Buenos Aires to meet with his Argentine counterpart, Diana Mondino, and with the ambassador of Uruguay in the neighboring country, Carlos Enciso, in a meeting that served as “one more step towards strengthening the historical ties between both countries,” according to the Chancellery of Argentina.
“We gladly received our foreign minister Omar Paganini before the important meeting at the San Martin Palace“, wrote Enciso in a publication on Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRREE) had with Mondino at the official headquarters of the Argentine Foreign Ministry.
The balance of the bilateral meeting, for its part, was briefly reported by the State office of the neighboring country, in which the relationship between the River Plate nations stood out. “One more step towards strengthening the historical links of brotherhood between both countries,” indicated the portfolio headed by Mondino, also through social networks.
What was discussed in the bilateral meeting?
Paganini traveled to Argentina with an open agenda but with some issues on the agenda: issues of trade, transportation and borders — with the possible signing of a Open Skies Memorandum as the most recent advance—, in addition to the monitoring of other topics already underway such as the works in the Uruguay River and the Waterway. The possible upcoming visit of Milei to the country – culminating point of the invitation extended by the president Luis Lacalle Pou in December and which he reiterated on several occasions—to finish consolidating the good relationship between both governments.
He Mercosur was another of the pillar themes, since they reaffirmed its “strategic character”, while pointing out the “permanent will”, considering that “the integration process must be transformed into a platform to project itself to the world”, as planned Uruguay upon assuming the pro tempore presidency of the bloc in July, with the priority of promote regional dialogue with China, with the signature of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as desired horizon.
On the other hand, they announced that there will be a new meeting of the Argentina-Uruguay Bilateral Trade Affairs Commission “highlighting the importance of deepening the bilateral relationship in trade matters, in order to boost exports and strengthen the economies of both countries.”
In turn, the foreign ministers agreed on the importance of advancing in the elimination of restrictions to bilateral trade, as well as in the signing of trade agreements that allow increasing exports of goods and services, promoting global insertion.
The works in Salto Grande
On the other hand, Paganini and Mondino highlighted the process of renewal of the Salto Grande Hydroelectric Complex, which constitutes a central work for the future of both countries, representing more than 40% of the Uruguayan electrical energy and about 5% of Argentina.
They also renewed their commitment to continue working on the reorganization of the Binational Commissions of Argentine-Uruguayan rivers, considering that “it will be reflected in greater efficiency in the administration of natural resources, as well as in navigation issues, infrastructure and connectivity to promote trade.”
In turn, they expressed the importance of the Physical Integration project between Monte Caseros and Bella Unión” and the updating of the “Technical, Environmental and Socio-Economic Feasibility Studies” thereof.
Source: Ambito
