Argentina protests Panetta comment

February 27, 2009|Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES - President Cristina Fernandez yesterday summoned the US ambassador to discuss the CIA director's comment that the world economic crisis could destabilize some Latin American governments.

Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said "we will demand explanations" from Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne.

CIA Director Leon Panetta listed Argentina, Venezuela and Ecuador on Wednesday as countries in dire economic straits that could be destabilized by the global financial crisis.

Taiana said he was surprised by Panetta's comments.

"We consider the statements an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of our country, even more so coming from an agency that has a sad history of interference in the internal affairs in the countries in the region," Taiana said, referring to the CIA's involvement with South American dictatorships during the 1970s and 1980s.

Ambassador Wayne said Panetta's remarks had been misinterpreted. He told C5N television that the CIA director was simply relaying the opinion of a "foreign source" who had visited the three countries, not expressing official concern about Argentina's economic stability.

"We value the participation of Argentina in international efforts to contain the crisis," the US Embassy said in an e-mail to the Associated Press.

Taiana said Argentina, South America's second-largest economy, is well prepared to weather the crisis, which he blamed squarely on the United States. He lamented its spread to countries such as Argentina, where a half-decade of strong economic expansion has suddenly stalled.

Argentina's GDP grew by more than 7 percent annually as it recovered from its own economic meltdown in 2001-2002, but the government expects just 4 percent growth this year, and many private economists say the economy may even contract.