“If something happens to me, look north. Not east,” the President adverted, in a speech that was primarily focused on yesterday’s adverse ruling by Federal judge Thomas Griesa.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

‘If something happens to me, look north’, Cristina warns

Key members of the Federal government were present during the event, including Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich, Economy Minister Axel Kicillof, Federal Planning Minister Julio De Vido and Industrial Minister Debora Giorgi. (Télam)

In her first public appearance since the declaration of the country in contempt of court, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner took a hard-line against the US on national broadcast and warned that if “something happens to me, look north”, in a speech delivered from the Women’s Salon, at the Government House.

Fernández de Kirchner referred to threats on her life by the Islamic State (IS), currently fighting against US air strikes in Iraq and Syria. However, this time she suggested that the islamist radicals were not the biggest threat to her administration.

“If something happens to me, look north. Not east,” the President adverted, in a speech that was primarily focused on yesterday’s adverse ruling by Federal judge Thomas Griesa.

The head of state insisted holdouts, or so called vulture funds “seek to take down the debt swap process and force us to pay million of dollars.” She revealed her government would deposit 100 million dollars for the discount bonds which expire in December 31st.

“If they need to destroy international norms for that, they will,” Mrs. Kirchner added, in allusion to the hedge funds that resisted from entering into the two debt swap which took place on 2005 and 2010.

“It is not a problem of one party or one government. It’s a problem of all the Argentine people,” Fernández de Kirchner said.

According to Mrs. Kirchner, her administration “is fulfilling the rules established by the Sovereign Payment Law, which includes 100 percent of bondholders. Those who entered [into the debt swap] and those who did not.”

Key members of the Federal government were present during the event, including Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich, Economy Minister Axel Kicillof, Federal Planning Minister Julio De Vido and Industrial Minister Debora Giorgi.

Earlier, Buenos Aires governor Daniel Scioli and several provincial leaders signed an agreement to extend their debt with the central government.

Hundreds of La Cámpora pro-government activists, Human Rights organizations and national lawmakers welcomed the President in her message to the nation.