Airlines: a deception that ended with an Argentine newspaper

In 2006, the government of Néstor Kirchner attempted to change the terms of an agreement with the Spanish group Marsans calling for a child laborer.

It was a story of heartache, deception and betrayal. Nothing was missing
the tortuous relationship of the Aerolineas Argentinas of the Spanish group Marsans with the officials Néstor and Cristina Kirchner. But beyond what we know, these days have brought to light one of the most incredible moments of the Cuban aeronautical novel.

Everything happened in Madrid, during an official visit of

Néstor Kirchner

. There were only a few hours left to sign an agreement between the parties and the Spaniards gave a project to the Argentineans. The next day, the signature was stamped in the eyes of the governments of both countries. In the middle, something happened. The Argentine government has changed the agreement and triggered a bilateral storm.

The story was revealed following the minutes of the hearings held in the course of the
ICSID from the World Bank. It was during the statements of the exdueños of the Marsans group, Gerardo Díaz Ferrán and Gonzalo Pascual, that the case was revealed.

It was June 2006 and, after years of disagreements between company executives and the government, Néstor Kirchner arrived in Spain for an official visit. This delegation was integrated, among others, by Julio De Vido and Ricardo Jaime. The underlying problem was simple: Marsans complained of frozen rates and Casa Rosada still has not responded.

Then it was agreed that Argentina would keep 20% of the company in exchange for the "social pax" required by the Spaniards. State participation has thus increased from 5 to 20 points.

According to Diaz Ferrán, Jaime summoned them together with Pascual and Antonio Mata, then managing director of Aerolineas Argentinas, to meet at El Pardo Palace, where the Kirchner had been installed. "We were going to sign the document with the president himself, and Mr. Jaime said that he already had two copies of the document that he had agreed to sign," he said. .

Before the imminent signature, in Spain, the leaders of the airline met to agree to the signing of the document to the Council. "I have also invited the firm president of Aerolíneas and Interinvest, Horacio Fargosi, who badisted us in drafting and negotiating the agreement." That day, I accompanied on the spot with Fargosi, Mata and Pascual. El Pardo Palace, where we had to wait more than an hour for the meeting with Mr Kirchner and Ricardo Jaime, "he added.

According to the reconstruction of that day that he made
THE NATIONIn the palace were also several representatives of Spanish companies with activities in Argentina, such as Telefónica and Repsol. "When we arrived at El Pardo Palace, I gave Jaime the necessary documents to sign two files, exactly what was agreed upon, and Secretary Jaime kept them for the signing meeting," he said. he adds.

The meeting followed a little later. Jaime arrived with the files and all signed documents that were in the same files that Diaz Ferrán had given him upon his arrival.

Happy with this agreement, we then discussed with Kirchner. "We were all happy to reach an agreement and we left." At the end of the meeting, I asked Jaime to give me a copy of the signed document. "Díaz Ferrán asked the transport secretary and the manager replied," Tomorrow I give them to the CEOE, "he added, referring to the powerful economic entity in which the meeting with the businessmen would be held." Good, but bring it to me tomorrow, "said the president. businessman.

The next day, the owner of Marsans asked the document to Jaime: "I did not bring it, I have to register it in Buenos Aires, I will send it to you," he replied.

But mistrust had settled between the two. Díaz Ferrán faced one of Jaime's badistants and asked him for a copy. "I asked him to let me make a photocopy and he left it for me," he recalls.

Then the scandal started. "When I saw it, I had the unpleasant surprise that the document signed the day before at the palace El Pardo, before us and before the authorities of the Argentine government, including the president, is not the one with which we agreed with Jaime and that I went to the palace, "he said at the hearing.

The problem was simple: while waiting for the meeting with Kirchner, Argentine officials had modified the document and placed the new one in the same files. "Who could imagine that they changed without telling us anything? How could we be wary of the president himself during an official visit to Spain?

The scandal has degenerated. Díaz Ferrán asked Jaime and asked him how it was possible that they had changed the copies: "I did what they sent me," replied Jaime, and closed the dialogue.

The problem is that the new terms to which they have subscribed reflect more privileges for government actions (Clbad A) than those agreed upon. "I said to Jaime:" It can not be like that, it's a scam! " And he replied, "Well that's what there is." On the same day, at a dinner organized by the Superior Council of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain with businessmen and with Kirchner, Díaz Ferrán told Kirchner that there was had an "error" in the signed document. "I told him in detail what happened to the head of government, Alberto Fernandez, and the ambbadador of Argentina in Spain, Carlos Bettini, who did not credit the deception during this meal, "said the businessman.

In the evening, at a dinner with President José Luis Zapatero and the couple Kirchner at the Palacio de la Moncloa, Díaz Ferrán did not go around and informed Zapatero. The following day, at a hotel in Madrid, the Spanish government called a meeting. Jaime arrived sweet. The Spanish told him that the Zapatero government would not acquiesce to the deception. The former ex-detainee drafted an addendum, which was signed and turned to the agreed text. "As it is imagined, uncovered the deception and realized the rectification through the intervention of the Government of Spain, from that time on, relations with Jaime and the government of 39, Argentina have become more complicated, "she was finalized. The dialogue was broken and the trust broken.