SOCIETY 354 /2010

LATEINAMERIKA
ARGENTINIEN
consolidating our model. What is interesting
is that today’s financial crisis has not
affected Argentina too much from the financial
point of view. Of course, it has its
impact on trade like export and import,
but Argentina didn’t suffer a lot due to the
huge international financial crisis.
For 2010 another rise of the economy is
expected…
The economy is running smooth and
with a good rate of growth.
How could the middle class survive
these crises?
Of course, it was a very hard time. The
huge middle class used to be and still is a distinct
element or feature of Argentina compared
to the rest of Latin America, and social
mobility a real factor of progress in our
country, I can offer my case as an example.
But of course, the middle class suffered
most but we are recovering at good speed.
In the last two years there has been a
dispute in the agrarian sector about taxes
and export restrictions. What is the reason
for this dispute?
This is a question which has to do with
politics and economics on the one hand,
and with the normal agonic (struggling)
activities of political parties on the other.
There was a discussion dealing with taxes
and it became a political hot issue. The opposition
got its point in Parliament and
the taxes were not enacted. The second
subject relates with a restriction of meat
exports in order to assure our domestic
consummation of meat, which is one of
the highest in the world. These were typical
situations in the political life within
the democratic institutions and with factors
of power and groups of interest, that
happens all the time in all democratic
systems.
Austria’s Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger
visited Buenos Aires during the
200-year-celebrations. This must have been
a special honor for Argentina?
The visit was a highlight in our celebrations
and a great honour for us. It had several
distinct features: Firstly, Minister
Spindelegger went to Buenos Aires, secondly,
he supported the publication of a
book compiled by two Argentine ladies
about the Austrian participation in our
Centenary in 1910. The book, for example,
recalls us that the Navy Ship Karl VI harbored
in Buenos Aires, that a brass band
played in the Colon Theatre, that Joseph
Hoffman created an armchair designated
“Buenos Aires”, etc. But of course, the visit
of Minister Spindelegger was a highlight
and he also took advantage of the occasion
to carry out political talks with our
Foreign Minister.
What are the political and economical
relations between Austria and Argentina?
We have perfect relations with bilateral
consultations every year or two years. We
co-operate a lot on the most different issues
on the international level like environment,
human rights etc. and in several
issues in which we share the same values
and objectives. On the economic/commercial
level we enjoy a reasonable exchange
but we have to deepen it. Several Austrian
enterprises are settled in Argentina and we
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