- Title: ARGENTINA: Brazilian and Argentine presidents discuss bioenergy and integration
- Date: 28th April 2007
- Summary: (BN01) BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (APRIL 27, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LULA'S PRESIDENTIAL ENTOURAGE ARRIVING AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE OLIVOS/ CARS DRIVING IN
- Embargoed: 13th May 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAEFP40NV6GU0S51USSTMT2578X
- Story Text: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Argentine President Nestor Kirchner hold informal talks on bilateral issues including the Bank of the South. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva travelled to Argentina on Thursday (April 16) and met with President Nestor Kirchner on Friday (April 27).
Kirchner invited Lula to his country to discuss bilateral issues including cooperating on energy projects.
The two held informal talks at the Olivos presidential residence where, Lula said, they discussed the creation of the Bank of the South.
"We're meeting all the ministers to discuss what's the goal of this bank," he told journalists. "Is it a bank for financing? Is it a bank to develop the region? How will each country participate? In what way will we participate? So to create a bank, it's necessary for us to have sustainability in the idea. It's important for it to be a financial institution of much credibility and, for that, we need to resolve all political divergence that may exist about the bank," he said.
The two presidents are friendly and have discussed cooperating on a number of projects including a gas pipeline that would travel from Bolivia and Venezuela through Brazil to Argentina. They are also both members of a number of regional group.
Lula played down differences with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez over energy policy, saying the region's nations should work together to meet their energy requirements.
Lula and Chavez clashed over their respective energy policies at a summit in Venezuela earlier this month.
Brazil, a big producer of ethanol, is promoting biofuel as an alternative to fossil fuels, while Venezuela, the world's fifth-biggest oil exporter, says over-production of biofuels would lead to food shortages and hunger.
This is Lula's first visit to Argentina in his second term. Before travelling to Argentina, Lula visited Chile. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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