- Title: ARGENTINA: South American leaders condemn "racist" Arizona immigration law
- Date: 5th May 2010
- Summary: CAMPANA, ARGENTINA (MAY 04, 2010) (REUTERS) LOGO UNASUR GENERAL VIEW OF ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA AND ARGENTINE PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNANDEZ IN NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA, SAYING: "I have been asked to communicate in the most gentile terms -- which is the only in which it can be said -- with our close friend President Zapatero, to express our opinion that we really believe that at least a digression has been committed without the consultation of the governments of the region by inviting the Honduran government [to the summit in Spain] which is not recognized by many countries. This is something which could provoke [some countries] to abstain from such an important summit. We all want to go but we don't want compromise our principles and policies, nor do we want to underestimate the position of such a large quantity of Latin American countries." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINE PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNANDEZ, SAYING: "There was also a very explicit condemnation of the so-called Plan Arizona, but in reality, and this is my position, one of the main issues we wanted to put forward to Europe is to put an end to discriminatory political practices in regards to immigration, which affects a large number of immigrants from the whole region." CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CORREA, SAYING: "With regards to the Malvinas (Falklands) we give unconditional support to Argentina. It is an international embarrassment. What explanation can we give to future generations about such aberrations in the 21st-century such as the possession of colonies 15,000km from one's capital. What logic does that have? It is a pure and simple application of force. This cannot continue like this." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE CORREA AND FERNANDEZ LEAVING CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 20th May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Legal System,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA9YDTJ2ZNZFSK76GL10GLNJ9KU
- Story Text: The leaders of South American nations issued a joint statement on Tuesday (May 4) censuring the U.S. state of Arizona for its tough new immigration policy.
Angered by Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants, the Unasur group, which represents nations from Colombia to Argentina, said the law could "legitimise racism" and "increase the risk of racist hate violence."
Arizona ratified the toughest immigration law in the nation last week.
It seeks to drive illegal immigrants out of the U.S.-Mexico border state.
"There was also a very explicit condemnation of the so-called Plan Arizona, but in reality, and this is my position, one of the main issues we wanted to put forward to Europe is to put an end to discriminatory political practices in regards to immigration, which affects a large number of immigrants from the whole region," said host Argentine President Cristina Fernandez.
The group also backed objections by Argentina over oil exploration in the British-controlled Falkland Islands and urged London to quickly resume negotiations to find a peaceful solution over the territorial dispute.
Argentina calls the islands the Malvinas. It invaded them in 1982 after Britain established rule in the 19th century.
Two months of war ensued, after which Argentina was forced to withdraw, but it still claims the archipelago and says oil exploration by various British companies is a breach of sovereignty.
"With regards to the Malvinas (Falklands) we give unconditional support to Argentina. It is an international embarrassment. What explanation can we give to future generations about such aberrations in the 21st-century such as the possession of colonies 15,000km from one's capital. What logic does that have? It is a pure and simple application of force. This cannot continue like this," said Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, who acts as Unasur's president.
Unasur countries will not go to a Ibero-American summit being organised by Spain, because Madrid has invited the Honduran government to participate.
The government of Honduran President Porifiro Lobo has been shunned by several countries in the region because the polls that bought him to power were organised by a de facto government which toppled the country's previous president in a coup.
"I have been asked to communicate in the most gentile terms -- which is the only in which it can be said -- with our close friend President Zapatero, to express our opinion that we really believe that at least a digression has been committed without the consultation of the governments of the region by inviting the Honduran government [to the summit in Spain] which is not recognized by many countries. This is something which could provoke [some countries] to abstain from such an important summit. We all want to go but we don't want compromise our principles and policies, nor do we want to underestimate the position of such a large quantity of Latin American countries," Correa said, making reference to Spanish President Jose Luis Zapatero.
The South America's leaders met at an exclusive golf resort 60km away from Buenos Aires.
Pledges of aid for Haiti and Chile, both hit by devastating earthquakes this year, were also on the agenda, as was the appointment of former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner as the body's new secretary-general. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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