Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 16 august 2017
Pence praises Argentina as model for Latin America

By JILL COLVIN ta, one of the largest shale
LUIS HENAO oil and gas deposits in the
Associated Press world.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina The comments also high-
(AP) — Vice President Mike light the balancing act
Pence praised Argentine Pence must play as he
President Mauricio Macri’s tries to stay true to Trump’s
“bold reform agenda” Tues- protectionist trade rheto-
day, hailing the country as ric while at the same time
a model for the region, in praising U.S. investments in
contrast to the downward Argentina and elsewhere.
spiral of Venezuela. On Wednesday, the U.S.
Speaking at the old stock will begin renegotiating the
exchange building in Bue- North American Free Trade
nos Aires during a week- Agreement with Cana-
long trip to Latin America, da and Mexico — a deal
Pence delivered a mes- Trump says in unfair to the
sage of reassurance that U.S.
President Donald Trump’s The United States is Argen-
“America first” policy tina’s third largest trade
does not mean “America partner after Brazil and Chi-
alone.” na.
He argued that a secure Argentina’s chamber of
Latin America is crucial to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence waves after speaking at the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, in commerce says exports to
the security of the United Argentina, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. Pence is on a official visit to Argentina until Wednesday, when the U.S. totaled $2.5 billion
States, and that a more he will be heading to Chile on a week-long visit to Latin America. in the first half of 2017 — an
prosperous Latin America (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) 11 percent increase over
will lead to a more prosper- tionist predecessor, Cristina ber. viding generous state jobs the same period last year.
ous U.S. Fernandez de Kirchner. During her presidency, and benefits. Pence and Macri also dis-
“When Latin America em- “Argentina in many ways Fernandez kept prices for Macri has also struggled to cussed the deteriorating
braces economic reforms, is an inspiration across this things like bread, bus rides lure in the foreign invest- situation in Venezuela, with
Latin America succeeds hemisphere and across the and energy low. But her ments, as promised while Pence warning the country
and so does the United wider world,” Pence said. free-spending policies led campaigning. was spiraling toward dic-
States,” he said. Pence’s visit came two to soaring consumer prices, Pence’s visit underscored tatorship at the hands of
Pence’s comments came days after the surprising limits on exports and cur- the challenges. Pence and President Nicolás Maduro,
at the end of a packed success of Macri’s political rency controls that created Macri both spoke at length and making the case that
day that included meet- coalition in key Argentine a black market for dollars. Tuesday about their desire a failed state in Venezuela
ings with Macri and other provinces in a primary elec- Macri was elected by prom- to deepen trade relations. will drive illegal drug traf-
local officials, a joint press tion. ising to clean up corruption Pence said the countries ficking and migration, and
conference and a visit to The results strengthened the and jumpstart the econ- were “very close” on a “endanger the security,
the city’s grand cathedral. coalition’s position head- omy with a pro-business deal to expand American prosperity, and well-being
During the press confer- ing into October’s midterm government that would roll pork exports to Argentina, of all who call the Western
ence, Pence praised Mac- legislative vote and gave back some of Fernandez’s but no new agreements Hemisphere home.”
ri’s pro-business reforms, a boost to its pro-business policies and cut back gov- were announced. Macri echoed the alarm —
which include cutting gov- economic reforms. ernment spending. Pence also praised recent but also made clear that
ernment spending, reduc- The vote was closely But he has struggled to investments by U.S. compa- he rejected Trump’s surprise
ing taxes on exports and watched to gauge Macri’s rein in double-digit inflation nies in Argentina, including suggestion last week that a
ending economic distor- popularity and the strength while job cuts and dimin- Viacom’s recent acquisi- “military option” might be
tions that led to years of of former President Fernan- ished utility subsidies have tion of broadcaster Telefe on the table.
high consumer prices un- dez, who is expected to run stoked unrest in a nation and Exxon and Chevron’s “The way to go,” said Mac-
der his left-leaning, protec- for a Senate seat in Octo- with a long tradition of pro- involvement in Vaca Muer- ri, “is not the use of force.”q

Korean leaders, US open door to diplomacy in nuclear crisis

By FOSTER KLUG diplomacy follows unusu- handles the missile pro- and passing over Japan mediate comments on
KIM TONG-HYUNG ally combative threats be- gram, Kim praised the mili- — apparently showing the Kim’s declaration.
Associated Press tween President Donald tary for drawing up a “close missiles’ flight route. “We continue to be inter-
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Trump and North Korea and careful plan” and said The missile plans were pre- ested in trying to find a
North Korea’s military on amid worries Pyongyang he would watch the “fool- viously announced. Kim way to get to dialogue, but
Tuesday presented leader is nearing its long-sought ish and stupid conduct of said North Korea would that’s up to him,” U.S. Sec-
Kim Jong Un with plans to goal of being able to send the Yankees” a little more conduct the launches if retary of State Rex Tillerson
launch missiles into waters a nuclear missile to the U.S. before deciding whether the “Yankees persist in their told reporters in Washing-
near Guam and “wring the mainland. to order the missile test, the extremely dangerous reck- ton on Tuesday.
windpipes of the Yankees,” Next week’s start of U.S.- state-run Korean Central less actions on the Korean Lobbing missiles toward
even as both Koreas and South Korean military exer- News Agency said. Peninsula and its vicinity,” Guam, a major U.S. military
the United States signaled cises that enrage the North Kim appeared in photos sit- warning the United States hub in the Pacific, would
their willingness to avert a each year could make ting at a table with a large to “think reasonably and be deeply provocative
deepening crisis, with each diplomacy even more dif- map marked by a straight judge properly” to avoid from the U.S. perspective.
suggesting a path toward ficult. During an inspection line between what ap- shaming itself, the news A miscalculation on either
negotiations. of the North Korean army’s peared to be northeastern agency said. The Trump side could lead to military
The tentative interest in Strategic Forces, which North Korea and Guam, administration had no im- confrontation. q