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Elsa Kelly may occupy the embassy in the U.S.
La Nacion
July 08, 2010

Three weeks after the change from Jorge Taiana to Hector Timerman at the head of the Foreign Ministry, the name of who will occupy the Argentine embassy in Washington is one of the main unknowns that concerns the bulk of the diplomatic corps. However, the Casa Rosada has almost decided on the designation of diplomat Elsa Kelly as future representative to the White House.

She's the director of Nuclear Affairs at the ministry and ex-Vice Minister in the government of Raul Alfonsin, in good sync with Washington over the rejection of Iran's nuclear program. Timerman spoke yesterday with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the nomination will be formalized next week.

According to sources, Timerman wanted a career diplomat promoted to this post. If, as it has come out, the choice is Kelly, the posture of the Foreign Minister will have been imposed on anyone who thinks in the government of a high profile political figure that could strengthen ties and closely represent the interests of Kirchnerism in the United States. The Casa Rosada doesn't want to chill the good climate that, according to perceptions, exists today in the bilateral relationship since Cristina Kirchner was received by Barack Obama.

In reality, it was the Foreign Minister who was less than concerned about formalizing in the short term a designation for the vacancy created when he himself took over the Palacio San Mart n. It happens, sources said, that his intention was to continue coordinating from Buenos Aires the ties with the United States in the time that the designation took to make. And more still: it's in his interest to continue being the main connection for the U.S. relationship including when the new ambassador takes effect, the sources added.

Timerman was inclined towards a career diplomat because he thought it would constitute a signal of the hierarchy made for the permanent members of the Nation's foreign service, to whom he himself promised upon taking office to add to his working team and promote them to important positions in the chain of power.

To cover the position, the minister had suggested various career ambassadors. Their identities were protected by the diplomatic corps, which knows the Kirchner maxim which goes: "Names that appear in the press are names that are stricken from the list." But now all seems to indicate that the name chosen is that of Elsa Kelly.

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