Argie prez talks politics, energy in Russia

Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez signed several agreements with her Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev earlier today.

As part of her official visit to Moscow, Kirchner was able to secure Russian support for Spanish-Argentine oil firm Repsol. In addition, both countries agreed to allow Russia’s largest private oil company- Lukoil- to invest in Argentine energy projects.

Medvedev and Kirchner also commented on their belief that the world cannot be dominated by “powerful states”:

Both leaders agreed that international financial institutions should be reformed so that they can act more promptly and efficiently, according to a joint statement issued after the talks…

"Both Argentina and Russia are convinced that the world should be built on the basis of multi-polarity. The unipolar world that emerged in 1989 did not lead many countries to positive solutions either in the economic or security areas," she said.

(Ironically, Medvedev ended his tour of Latin America last week where he tried to expand Russian influence in the region).

Both leaders also expressed their support of a peaceful resolution to the dispute between Argentina and the U.K. over the Falkland Islands. “The call said the resolution should take place "in accordance with a U.N. mandate" — referring to a 1965 U.N. resolution that called for negotiations between the two countries,” according to an AP report.

Image- AP (“Argentine President Cristina Fernandez wears a silver fox fur hat presented by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008.”)
Sources- The Latin Americanist, ITAR-TASS, AFP, IHT, Xinhua