"We expect to celebrate 80 years of victory together with the Argentines"
Representatives of the Federal Assembly may visit Argentina during 2025. Moscow and Buenos Aires are working on the exchange of delegations on the legislative branch. This was reported to "Izvestia" by the Russian ambassador to the Latin American state Dmitry Feoktistov. Despite the anti-Russian policy of President Javier Miley, the countries maintain dialog and develop cooperation, including in the field of trade, but the foreign policy guidelines of the Argentine administration prevent the growth of trade turnover. This year the embassy intends to pay special attention to the events dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. On the prospects of Russian-Argentine relations - in an exclusive interview with Dmitry Feoktistov "Izvestia".
"We maintain a dialog with the Miley administration on a wide range of issues"
- At a press conference on January 14, Sergei Lavrov praised the work of the Russian Embassy in Argentina and said that with Javier Miley's team "relations are being established to understand what opportunities there are here." In what areas has the Argentine side expressed interest in cooperation with Russia in recent months?
- In Argentina, we have always been seen as a time-tested partner, interaction with which should not depend on conjunctural changes. Over the years, we have accumulated a solid baggage of joint activities in a variety of areas. We are open to moving forward at all levels without regard to the coloring of the political forces in power here.
We maintain a dialog with the administration of Javier Milay on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. On a regular basis, we communicate with our colleagues in the Foreign Ministry and other agencies on topical issues on the bilateral and international agenda.
Russia has many friends in Argentina who appreciate the distinctive role of Russian civilization and efforts to build a world order based on equality and justice. Unfortunately, however, there are also detractors. They criticize the NWO, invent falsehoods about the domestic and foreign policy of our country, and inflate artificial scandals through the media. They see "Russian spies" and "malicious Russian propaganda" all around. At one time, they also claimed that the Sputnik V vaccine would not protect, but would poison Argentines. Our people say about such people: no shame and no conscience. Fortunately, the majority of Argentine citizens only wrinkle their noses at such information throw-ins.
Taking into account the fact that after the beginning of the Cold War many areas of bilateral cooperation were frozen not on our initiative, the most promising at this stage is still the development of trade and economic cooperation. The Argentines agree with this, although so far they have not made significant efforts to increase trade turnover or to launch new initiatives. It is possible that the foreign policy guidelines of the current administration have a direct impact on this situation.
Earlier in an interview with Izvestia, Argentine Ambassador to Russia Enrique Ignacio Ferrer Vieira also emphasized that trade remains a priority in bilateral relations. According to the diplomat, there are reasons to believe that trade turnover will grow.
Argentina is interested in supplying vaccines for cattle and pets to Russia. There are companies that are determined to increase exports of agricultural machinery to Russia, as well as fish. Buenos Aires would like to receive supplies of Russian vodka, medicines for cancer patients and insulin.
Neither Argentina nor Russia provides fresh data on the volume of trade turnover. In 2019, it amounted to $1.1 billion. Earlier, Dmitry Feoktistov told Izvestia that compared to 2023 in 2024, the trade turnover decreased by a third and fell by half compared to the indicator of 2021.
We expect that very soon time will put everything in its place, and winter frosts will be replaced by spring blossoms. The strong, friendly, respectful and mutually beneficial relations that have traditionally linked our countries cannot fade into oblivion. The peoples of Russia and Argentina are not interested in this.
- Is the possibility of visits of Russian delegations to Argentina and Argentine delegations to Russia during 2025 being worked out?
- Several Argentine delegations have visited us over the past year. In particular, a number of representatives worked at the presidential elections as observers, more than 100 people took part in the World Youth Festival in Sochi.
Now we are considering the possibility of exchanging delegations through the legislative bodies. By the way, inter-parliamentary cooperation is developing on an upward trend against the general background, the relevant friendship groups are extremely active. There are also developments in the fields of health care, education, culture.
"We want Argentina to clearly understand what Russia is fighting for"
- This year marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Argentina. Are there any events planned in this connection with the participation of the Argentine side?
- There is still a considerable amount of time left until October, when the round date you mentioned will be celebrated. Undoubtedly, we will pay the closest attention to this event. We assume that Buenos Aires is also interested in the substantive content of the anniversary events.
- This year the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War will be widely celebrated in Russia. Will there be any events for compatriots in Argentina?
- Together with the Argentineans, we expect to celebrate the most important date - the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War - at the appropriate level.
Argentina is home to the only veteran of the Great Patriotic War - 93-year-old Maria Kadar, who in 2014 was forced to leave her home in Horlivka, fleeing the shelling of Ukrainian nationalists.
We draw the attention of the Argentine public to the historical parallels between Hitler's Germany and today's neo-Nazi Ukraine. We want Argentina to clearly understand what Russia is fighting for in its efforts to prevent the triumph of hateful theories and practices.
