The 202nd anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Argentina was the setting for a balance of the bilateral relationship. Ambassador Normando Álvarez and Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade Clarems Endara highlighted the commercial, energy, social and even nuclear integration, but avoided giving dates of a possible meeting between Presidents Evo Morales and Mauricio Macri.
During the patriotic celebrations of the neighboring country held in the Argentine residence, Ambassador Álvarez highlighted the progress made in cooperation agreements in the areas of health, agriculture and others. However, it did not mention the gas purchase agreement in force until 2026, nor the level of compliance.
“We signed an agreement: INVAP (Applied Research) from Argentina that is building three nuclear medicine centers in Santa Cruz , El Alto and La Paz , Argentine technology, Argentine capacity at the service of the Bolivian people,” he said.
He also announced that from January next year, Argentina will buy electricity from Bolivia, and for that, the lines are being concluded. “There is a lot of work that is not seen but the most important thing is the daily work, we are going to sign in August a security agreement that is making a lot of progress in the fight against drug trafficking, Argentina is very interested in that,” he explained.
The diplomat said that despite the economic crisis affecting his country and that is expected to be overcome in the short term, the Government of Macri achieved after many years, political and institutional stability that are the bases with which you can draw difficulties. “Before, Congress was not respected, justice was not respected, our Constitution was not respected,” he said.
In turn, Deputy Minister Endara highlighted the historical ties of brotherhood between the two countries and the role of the Bolivian heroine Juana Azurduy de Padilla, promoted by the Government of Argentina.
“Regarding cultural plurality, it translates into energy, physical, commercial, academic integration, investment exchange, cooperation in space defense, nuclear medicine, as well as security and social and migratory areas,” he said.
He also highlighted the letter of intent on cooperation for scientific research between the province of Jujuy and Yacimientos de Litio Bolivia (YLB), which aims to define the guidelines to promote the development of activities.
“Another element of physical integration and we highlight its relevance is the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway and the concession of a free zone in Rosario port that encourages bilateral trade as the main alternative access to overseas markets by the Atlantic Ocean,” he said in his speech.
In that context, he said that the Bolivian Government is pleased to accompany the Argentine people to the country’s celebration. “As the President said this morning, we are not only neighbors, we are brothers, and integration must be our destiny as the goal of the great homeland,” he said.
