Deputy Assistant Secretary Of State Meets with High-Ranking Argentine Government Officials

August 27, 2009

Christopher McMullen with Anibal Fernandez

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Christopher McMullen was received on August 27 at the Government House by Chief of Cabinet Aníbal Fernández, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Minister Jorge Taiana and Deputy Foreign Minister Victorio Taccetti and at the Defense Minister by the Secretary for International Affairs  Alfredo Forti. Deputy Assistant Secretary McMullen was accompanied by U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Thomas Kelly.

“We had very positive working meetings with high-ranking Argentine government officials during which we informed about the U.S. government position on the Defense Agreement reached with Colombia and renewed our commitment with a transparent and cooperative relation with all regional governments”. – said U.S. Embassy Chargé D’Affaires Thomas Kelly.

The objective of Mc Mullen’s visit was to inform and talk with the Argentine government about the details of the Defense Cooperation Agreement reached by the United States and Colombia. Deputy Assistant Secretary McMullen explained to the Argentine officials that the ad referendum agreement  with Colombia updates the cooperation enjoyed by  both countries during many years and seeks to fight  security threats in Colombia, like drug-trafficking and transnational crime. Mc Mullen told Argentine officials that the agreement does not allow the establishment of any  U.S. base in Colombia and rests on the principles of non-intervention, territorial integrity and sovereignty.