After 45 years, Argentina reopens embassy in Dhaka

Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam reopened the embassy of the South American country in Dhaka's Banani today.

"It's a momentous and joyous moment. It's not just a diplomatic gesture. It's something like an emotional moment," said Shahriar Alam.

Argentina reopened its embassy here after 45 years.

The Argentine Embassy was previously closed down in 1978 by the military junta that ruled over the country.

Diplomatic operations, such as issuing visas, have since been handled by the embassy in neighbouring India.

Argentina says it is convenient to reopen the embassy following foreign policy guidelines based on "political, strategic and commercial" reasons.

The Argentine foreign minister arrived here this morning to inaugurate the new embassy.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received him at the VIP Lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his arrival in Dhaka.

Momen will have a bilateral meeting with his Argentine counterpart at the state guesthouse Jamuna this evening to discuss trade and investment issues. The meeting is likely to begin at 6:00pm.

Momen will also host a dinner in the honor of the Argentine foreign minister after the bilateral talks.

The Argentine minister is likely to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi.

"There is also the possibility of signing visa exemption agreements on diplomatic and official passports, MoUs on cooperation in agriculture and diplomatic training academies of the two countries," Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told reporters recently.

Apart from this, the two countries are working on a memorandum of understanding on football-related matters, she said.

Apart from the import of soybean oil and wheat from Argentina, the two sides are likely to discuss Bangladesh's inclusion in South America's powerful economic alliance Mercosur.

Mercosur, or the Southern Common Market, is an economic and political bloc originally comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.