France calls for talks with Argentina

Paris - France called yesterday for international financial institutions to reopen talks with Argentina to solve the economic…

Paris - France called yesterday for international financial institutions to reopen talks with Argentina to solve the economic crisis that has provoked riots and led to the resignation of President Fernando de la Rua.

"We must now define a scenario for getting out of this crisis, which implies a renewed, confident and constructive dialogue between the Argentine authorities and international financial institutions," said a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

The Foreign Minister, Mr Hubert Vedrine, earlier yesterday said international financial institutions were partly to blame for the Argentine economic crisis.

Without directly naming the International Monetary Fund, whose programme for Argentina has stipulated tough austerity measures, Mr Vedrine said domestic policy mistakes had been compounded by those of international bodies.

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"There has been a chain of political and economic errors, not just by the Argentines but also errors by international financial institutions or demands that have been excessive or at the wrong time," he said.