CECILIANAHÓN-Ambassador of Argentina
PHOTOBYTONYPOWELL
H
ow is Argentina dealing with its debt restructuring? After a default
in 2001, Argentina successfully restructured its debt with 93 percent
of its bondholders and is committed to finding a solution for 100 percent
of them under fair, equitable, legal and sustainable conditions. The global
community has overwhelmingly supported Argentina’s position. Recently,
the United Nations approved a historic resolution outlining “Basic Principles
on Sovereign Debt Restructuring Processes” which promotes a more stable
and predictable international financial system and represents a relevant step
towards a world free from vulture funds’ highly speculative behavior.
How has uncertainty in the global economies impacted your country’s
ability to pay off debt? Argentina’s economy has proven to be resilient
to the persistent global economic crisis. The government implemented a
sustainable debt strategy based on the premise that “it is necessary to
grow in order to repay our debts”. Hence, Argentina has kept paying all
its debts and reduced its debt to GDP ratio from 166 percent in 2002 to
only 40 percent in 2014.
What other world issues are most important to Argentina? Argentina’s
economic model over the past decade has been one of growth with social
inclusion promoting these views both at the domestic and global levels.
Argentina also plays a key role in some of the world’s most crucial issues,
among them championing for disarmament and nonproliferation and the
promotion and protection of human rights, as well as supporting dialogue and
negotiations as the way for solving international disputes and conflicts.
How are you working with or contributing to the Washington community this
year? The Embassy has a very active agenda that includes many cultural events:
movie screenings, tango lessons, concerts and art exhibits as well as partnerships
with the Washington Chorus, the Washington Ballet, Choral Arts Society and
the Pan American Symphony, among others.
How do your countrymen feel about having a new pope who is one of their
own? The whole country received the news with great happiness and joy. We
take this profound honor recognizing Pope Francis’s humility, his concern for
the poor, and his commitment to interfaith dialogue, as a symbol of Argentina’s
message to the world.
What’s one thing Americans don’t know about Argentina that they should?
Science and technology is a top priority for our country. Argentina is the Latin
American country with the highest number of Nobel Prizes in sciences, ranking
fourth among emerging economies.
What’s the best spot to find authentic Argentinian food here? Certainly, the
Embassy offers the best “empanadas” in D.C.. And soon we will be able to enjoy
our world renowned beef in the U.S. since beef imports from Argentina have
been recently reauthorized after a 14 year old unfair ban.
What’s one book and/or film from Argentina everybody needs to know about?
The Oscar-winning movie “The Official Story”, among many other internationally
acclaimed Argentine films produced in our growing film industry.
@ARGembassyinUSA
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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