EL UNIVERSAL

French President Nicolas Sarkozy allegedly asked his Argentinean counterpart Cristina Fernández de Kirchner for help to "contain" Venezuelan ruler Hugo Chávez, "whose ill-timed reactions are a cause for concern for Europe, as they endanger regional stability," Argentinean press reports claimed.

Buenos Aires-based daily newspaper La Nación, quoting sources with the Élysée Palace -the siege of the French government- last Monday reported that during a meeting between Fernández de Kirchner and Sarkozy in Paris, the latter conveyed "the petition from European governments to those countries that, like Argentina, hold open and friendly talks with President Chávez."

The sources noticed that the French ruler believes that Argentina -given the close ties between Buenos Aires and Caracas- may play a key role to achieve such a goal.

When asked by La Nación about the claims, Argentinean Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana and some members of the delegation accompanying Fernández de Kirchner during her visit to France replied they did not know the contents of the private meeting between the two presidents.

"It is very important for Argentina to represent France's interests in Latin America and for France to represent Argentina's interests in Europe," Sarkozy told Fernández de Kirchner earlier, during a luncheon.

Fernández de Kirchner ended her first official visit to France -which took 36 hours- with her meeting with Sarkozy.

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.