“The relations between Argentina and Russia are in their best moments in past decades, I think this [moment] is the best, but it is also a great challenge,” the diplomat said, adding that the two countries now have to take advantage of the situation and transform their good will into specific action.
Tettamanti noted that the two countries have maintained good contacts since the establishment of relations in October 1885. He said that Russia and Argentina consistently demonstrate convergence on issues even when ideological positions of the governments differ.
After the West started imposing sanctions on Russia over Moscow’s alleged role in the internal Ukrainian conflict, Argentina significantly increased food imports to Russia.
Currently the two countries are discussing the possibility of Russia investing in the Argentine energy sector and Argentina purchasing Russian Mi-171E helicopters.
Argentina wants Russian companies to join the project to build Unit 5 of the Atucha NPP about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Buenos Aires.
"Argentina is interested in the participation of Russian companies in the construction of the fifth reactor of the Atucha NPP, as well as in other projects," the ambassador said in a brief interview in the run-up to the Argentine president's visit to Russia.
The ambassador said that Vladimir Putin and Cristina Kirchner "are expected to reach understanding in the talks that have lasted for quite a while" when they meet in Moscow in late April.
Last July, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia's Rosatom nuclear energy corporation was ready to work with Argentina on the construction of a new nuclear power unit at the Atucha plant as both contractor and builder.
Atucha is a nuclear power plant in the Argentinian town of Lima. Argentina announced earlier plans to build a fourth nuclear power unit to fit in a Canada-made reactor, while a fifth unit would reportedly be built around a Russia-constructed reactor.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 23. According to the Kremlin press service, the two leaders will discuss the implementation of the agreements reached during Putin's visit to Buenos Aires last summer. They will also exchange opinions on further development of bilateral cooperation in trade and investments.
