CFK claimed ‘responsible leaderships’, highlighted Cuba debt write-off

Vladimir Putin shakes hands with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at the Russian leader''''s arrival to the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires City.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin arrived at the Casa Rosada presidential palace today where he met President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to sign bilateral cooperation agreements on key areas such as energy and communications.

Ms. Kirchner received her Russian counterpart at the White Hall of the government house joined by all cabinet ministers. Putin then introduced the members of the Russian mission also present at the gathering to Argentina’s head of state.

Both leaders signed agreements on peaceful nuclear development, communications and legal assistence.

"Our relationship with Russia is startegically relevant. We believe in a multi-polar world. We are honored to have tighten our relationship with Russia," CFK said today.

The President also called for a reform of international organisms that "haven't worked economically or politically to heal the suffering of the world."

In this sense, she claimed for "responsible World leaderships" while higlighting Russia wrote-off 90% of Cuba's debt.

"I don't mean we are asking for the same. We have a restructured debt. We only ask for a fair, equal negotiation. But some countries cannot pay," CFK added.

Vladimir Putin arrived in Argentina at 5 am today as part of the leader’s Latin American tour that took him first to Cuba where he met the Castro brothers earlier in the week.

Argentina is Russia’s “main strategic partner” in Latin America, the UN and the G20, Putin said prior to his visit to Buenos Aires.

Later today, at around 8 pm, President Kirchner will be hosting a dinner at the Bicentenary Museum at the Casa Rosada presidential palace to honour Vladimir Putin. Bolivia’s Evo Morales, Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and Uruguay’s José “Pepe” Mujica will be attending the event, the Foreign Ministry has informed.

NUCLEAR COOPERATION

Putin's energy minister, Alexander Novak, told reporters in the Argentine capital that the Russian state atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, had made an offer to tender for the construction of two new nuclear power units in Argentina.

Novak said Rosatom could offer "comfortable" financial terms to South America's No. 3 economy, which has struggled to advance its nuclear energy programme and lure foreign investors deterred by a raft of punishing capital and import controls.

"Rosatom is actively working here... and has already handed over its technical and commercial offer to our (Argentine) colleagues," Novak told reporters after talks between Putin and his Argentine counterpart, President Cristina Fernandez.

"There will be a tender this fall. Rosatom... is also ready to provide comfortable financial conditions (to Argentina)."