Lula criticized major powers for Iran sanctions

San Juan (Argentina), 3 (AP) - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva today criticized major powers for the enforcement of sanctions against Iran as punishment to the country's nuclear program.

The permanent members of UN Security Council (U.S., France, Britain, China and Russia) "should talk with Iran can not possibly do not talk when you want peace," Lula said during the Mercosur summit in the Argentine city of San Juan.

Cristina thanked Lula for support Néstor Kirchner in UNASUR

San Juan, AUG 3 (Reuters) - The agent of Argentina, Cristina Kirchner, made today during the Mercosur Summit thanks to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by the "support" for his country and to that nation's former leader Nestor Kirchner at the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

"I want to thank the task performed by President Lula, Argentina's eternal friend" and his "support for Néstor Kirchner" the Secretary General of UNASUR, a position that the former president and husband of Cristina has recently taken, said the president.

Christina made the statement in his speech at the 39th meeting of Heads of State and Government of the block - in the presence of Lula and the leaders of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, and Uruguay, Jose Mujica, besides the representatives of the associated countries Bolivia, Evo Morales and Chile, Sebastián Piñera.

Also in his speech, the president highlighted the economic policies of member countries of the bloc, with stimuli to the internal market and production, energetic and social plans, which served to mitigate the impact of global economic crisis.

"The history of the world during the twentieth century seemed to have doomed the South to be mere producers of raw materials and the region to impose neoliberal policies that were disastrous endings social and economic tragedy," he continued.

"In 2001 we live in an implosion similar to that experienced in developed countries" in recent years, he recalled, referring to the severe crisis that came to Argentina.

Now, "we are going through a very special moment in South America and the world," said the president, stressing that "we need to redouble efforts for democracy and our governments to overcome" poverty levels in the region.

"We recovered the value of public policy in face of what had been the privatization of state policies," continued the agent, but it is still necessary to "favor a policy agreement on the things that we have won" and "work immediately on those aspects that still lacking. "

"We all have a common goal which is to achieve better quality of life for our communities," he added.

In this sense, Cristina Mujica thanked by the effort to "overcome" the differences, in clear reference to the bilateral conflict caused by the installation of a pulp mill in the Uruguayan side of the border, did not interfere in the relations of Mercosur.

At the end of the 39th Mercosur Summit, which takes place in the Argentine town of San Juan, Argentina forward shift of the presidency of Mercosur for Brazil, which will take until December 2010. In the afternoon, Lula and Cristina still hold a bilateral meeting.

The Canadian Government is looking to purcahse some new 5th generation fighter technology. This would be a great opportunity for the Russian arms industry to approach the Canadian Government for some new MIG sales.

I have seen this new Russian jet fighter and it would make a nice additon to the F-35 Lockheed Martin fighter under consideration.

With regards to sanctions on arm sales by the United Nations. These existing contracts should be required to go ahead to Iran or otherwise be bought out by other UN countries.

A contract is a contract to deliver a product and the Russian arms industry needs to be compensated for their loss otherwise why be part of the UN.

Arnold Vinette