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Shannon Says U.S. Willing to Discuss Argentine Paris Club Debt
Bloomberg
July 09, 2008

By Matthew Craze

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon comments on Argentina's defaulted debt with Paris Club nations.

The Paris Club, an informal association of creditors, including the U.S. and Japan, works to bail out troubled sovereign debtors. The group lent Argentina $6.3 billion in 2001, before the country's default.

Shannon commented in a television interview with Clarin in Buenos Aires today.

On the U.S. government's role:

``We are always willing to talk about these issues. They are important issues for us and for Argentina. In my last visit to Argentina I clearly stated my interest in helping Argentina find a solution with the Paris Club. So we are willing to listen to everything that the Argentine side wants to share with us.''

On legal action being taken against Venezuelan citizens who were accused of funding Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's campaign:

``That issue was overcome a long time ago. It's an issue that is being dealt with by our courts and our judges will resolve the problem. The important thing here is that the two countries are committed to each other to deepen our relationship.''

On Argentine farmers' protests over export taxes:

``We are constructing a relationship between the U.S. and Argentina that will last and is profound. So we are not going to get involved in Argentina's internal affairs, on the contrary, we are trying to show that there are interests between Argentina and the U.S. that are going to last.''