OFFICIAL NAME:

Argentine Republic

Geography

Area: 2.8 million sq. km. (1.1 million sq. mi.); about the size of the U.S. east of the
Mississippi River; second-largest country in South America.

Climate: Varied--predominantly temperate with extremes ranging from subtropical in the
north to arid/sub- Antarctic in far south.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective--Argentine(s).

Population (2004 est.): 37.9 million.

Annual population growth rate (2001): 1.05%.

Ethnic groups: European 97%, mostly of Spanish and Italian descent; Mestizo, Amerindian
or other nonwhite groups 3%.

Religions: Roman Catholic 92%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%.

Language: Spanish.

Education: Years compulsory--10. Adult literacy (2001)--97%.

Health: Infant mortality rate--16.16/1,000. Life expectancy (2000
est.)--75.48 yrs.

Work force: Industry and commerce--36%; agriculture--19%; transport and
communications--6%.

Government

Type: Republic.

Constitution: 1853; revised 1994.

Independence: 1816.

Branches: Executive--president, vice president, cabinet.
Legislative--bicameral Congress (72-member Senate, 257-member Chamber of
Deputies). Judicial--Supreme Court, federal and provincial trial courts.

Administrative subdivisions: 23 provinces and one autonomous district (Federal
Capital).

Political parties: Justicialist (Peronist), Radical Civic Union (UCR), numerous smaller
national and provincial parties.

Suffrage: Universal adult.

Economy (2003)

GDP: $127.6 billion.

Annual real growth rate: +8.7%.

Per capital GDP: $3,486.

Natural resources: Fertile plains (pampas); minerals--lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron,
manganese, oil, and uranium.

Agriculture (13.5% of GDP, about 53% of exports by value): Products--grains,
oilseeds and by-products, livestock products.

Industry (26.8% of GDP): Types--food processing, oil refining, machinery and
equipment, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals.

Trade: Exports ($29.5 billion)--grains, meats, oilseeds, manufactured products.
Major markets--EU 20%; MERCOSUR 19%; NAFTA 14%.

Year 2003 Argentine Exports--Millions of U.S.
Dollars

Imports ($13.8 billion in 2003)--machinery,
vehicles and transport products, chemicals. Major suppliers--MERCOSUR 37%; EU 20%;
NAFTA 19%. Imports from the United States were 16.3% of total Argentine imports, and
87.3% of Argentine imports from NAFTA in 2003.

Year 2003 Argentine Imports--Millions of U.S.
Dollars

PEOPLE

Argentines are a fusion of diverse national and ethnic groups, with descendants of
Italian and Spanish immigrants predominant. Waves of immigrants from many European
countries arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Syrian, Lebanese, and other
Middle Eastern immigrants number about 500,000, mainly in urban areas. Argentina's
population is overwhelmingly Catholic, but it also has the largest Jewish population in
Latin America, about 250,000 strong, and is home to one of the largest Islamic mosques in
Latin America. In recent years, there has been a substantial influx of immigrants from
neighboring Latin American countries. The indigenous population, estimated at 700,000, is
concentrated in the provinces of the north, northwest, and south. The Argentine
population has one of Latin America's lowest growth rates. Eighty percent of the
population resides in cities or towns of more than 2,000, and over one-third lives in the
greater Buenos Aires area. With 13 million inhabitants, this sprawling metropolis serves
as the focus for national life. Argentines enjoy comparatively high standards of living;
however, the economic crisis during 2001 and 2002 left 47.8% of the population living
below the poverty line as of June 2004.

HISTORY

Europeans arrived in the region with the 1502 voyage of Amerigo Vespucci. Spanish
navigator Juan Diaz de Solias visited what is now Argentina in 1516. Spain established a
permanent colony on the site of Buenos Aires in 1580, although initial settlement was
primarily overland from Peru. The Spanish further integrated Argentina into their empire
by establishing the Vice Royalty of Rio de la Plata in 1776, and Buenos Aires became a
flourishing port. Buenos Aires formally declared independence from Spain on July 9, 1816.
Argentines revere Gen. Jose de San Martin, who campaigned in Argentina, Chile, and Peru
as the hero of their national independence. Following the defeat of the Spanish,
centralist and federationist groups waged a lengthy conflict between themselves to
determine the future of the nation. National unity was established, and the constitution
promulgated in 1853.

Two forces combined to create the modern Argentine nation
in the late 19th century: the introduction of modern agricultural techniques and
integration of Argentina into the world economy. Foreign investment and immigration from
Europe aided this economic revolution. Investment, primarily British, came in such fields
as railroads and ports. As in the United States, the migrants who worked to develop
Argentina's resources--especially the western pampas--came from throughout
Europe.

From 1880 to 1930 Argentina became one of the world's 10
wealthiest nations based on rapid expansion of agriculture and foreign investment in
infrastructure. Conservative forces dominated Argentine politics until 1916, when their
traditional rivals, the Radicals, won control of the government. The Radicals, with their
emphasis on fair elections and democratic institutions, opened their doors to Argentina's
rapidly expanding middle class as well as to groups previously excluded from power. The
Argentine military forced aged Radical President Hipolito Yrigoyen from power in 1930 and
ushered in another decade of Conservative rule. Using fraud and force when necessary, the
governments of the 1930s attempted to contain the currents of economic and political
change that eventually led to the ascendance of Juan Domingo Peron (b. 1897). New social
and political forces were seeking political power, including a modern military and labor
movements that emerged from the growing urban working class.

The military ousted Argentina's constitutional government
in 1943. Peron, then an army colonel, was one of the coup's leaders, and he soon became
the government's dominant figure as Minister of Labor. Elections carried him to the
presidency in 1946. He aggressively pursued policies aimed empowering the working class
and greatly expanded the number of unionized workers. In 1947, Peron announced the first
5-year plan based on the growth of industries he nationalized. He helped establish the
powerful General Confederation of Labor (CGT). Peron's dynamic wife, Eva Duarte de Peron,
known as Evita (1919-52), played a key role in developing support for her husband. Peron
won reelection in 1952, but the military sent him into exile1955. In the 1950s and 1960s,
military and civilian administrations traded power, trying, with limited success, to deal
with diminished economic growth and continued social and labor demands. When military
governments failed to revive the economy and suppress escalating terrorism in the late
1960s and early 1970s, the way was open for Peron's return.

On March 11, 1973, Argentina held general elections for
the first time in 10 years. Peron was prevented from running, but voters elected his
stand-in, Dr. Hector Campora, as President. Peron's followers also commanded strong
majorities in both houses of Congress. Campora resigned in July 1973, paving the way for
new elections. Peron won a decisive victory and returned as President in October 1973
with his third wife, Maria Estela Isabel Martinez de Peron, as Vice President. During
this period, extremists on the left and right carried out terrorist acts with a frequency
that threatened public order. The government resorted to a number of emergency decrees,
including the implementation of special executive authority to deal with violence. This
allowed the government to imprison persons indefinitely without charge.

Peron died on July 1, 1974. His wife succeeded him in
office, but a military coup removed her from office on March 24, 1976, and the armed
forces formally exercised power through a junta composed of the three service commanders
until December 10, 1983. The armed forces applied harsh measures against terrorists and
many suspected of being their sympathizers. They restored basic order, but the human
costs of what became known as "El Proceso," or the "Dirty War" were high. Conservative
counts list between 10,000 and 30,000 persons as "disappeared" during the 1976-83 period.
Serious economic problems, mounting charges of corruption, public revulsion in the face
of human rights abuses and, finally, the country's 1982 defeat by the United Kingdom in
an unsuccessful attempt to seize the Falklands/Malvinas Islands all combined to discredit
the Argentine military regime. The junta lifted bans on political parties and gradually
restored basic political liberties.

On October 30, 1983, Argentines went to the polls and
chose Raul Alfonsin, of the Radical Civic Union (UCR), as President. He began a 6-year
term of office on December 10, 1983. In 1985 and 1987, large turnouts for mid-term
elections demonstrated continued public support for a strong and vigorous democratic
system. The UCR-led government took steps to resolve some of the nation's most pressing
problems, including accounting for those who disappeared during military rule,
establishing civilian control of the armed forces, and consolidating democratic
institutions. However, failure to resolve endemic economic problems, and an inability to
maintain public confidence undermined the effectiveness of the Alfonsin government, which
left office 6 months early after Peronist candidate Carlos Saul Menem won the 1989
presidential elections.

President Menem imposed peso-dollar parity
(convertibility) in 1992 to break the back of hyperinflation and adopted far-reaching
market-based policies. Menem's accomplishments included dismantling a web of
protectionist trade and business regulations, and reversing a half-century of statism by
implementing an ambitious privatization program. These reforms contributed to significant
increases in investment and growth with stable prices through most of the 1990s.
Unfortunately, widespread corruption in the administrations of President Menem and
President Fernando De la Rua (elected in 1999) shook confidence and weakened the
recovery. Also, while convertibility defeated inflation, its permanence undermined
Argentina's export competitiveness and created chronic deficits in the current account of
the balance of payments, which were financed by massive borrowing. The contagion effect
of the Asian financial crisis of 1998 precipitated an outflow of capital that gradually
mushroomed into a 4-year depression that culminated in a financial panic in November
2001. In December 2001, amidst bloody riots, President De la Rua resigned, and Argentina
defaulted on $88 billion in debt, the largest sovereign debt default in
history.

A legislative assembly on December 23, 2001, elected
Adolfo Rodriguez Saa to serve as President and called for general elections to elect a
new president within 3 months. Rodriguez Saa announced immediately that Argentina would
default on its international debt obligations, but expressed his commitment to maintain
the currency board and the peso's 1-to-1 peg to the dollar. Rodriguez Saa, however, was
unable to rally support from within his own party for his administration and this,
combined with renewed violence in the Federal Capital, led to his resignation on December
30. Yet another legislative assembly elected Peronist Eduardo Duhalde President on
January 1, 2002. Duhalde--differentiating himself from his three predecessors--quickly
abandoned the peso's 10-year-old link with the dollar, a move that was followed by
currency depreciation and inflation. In the face of rising poverty and continued social
unrest, Duhalde also moved to bolster the government's social programs.

In the first round of the presidential election on April
27, 2003, former President Carlos Menem (Justicialist Party--PJ) won 24.3% of the vote,
Santa Cruz Governor Nestor Kirchner (PJ) won 22%, followed by Ricardo Murphy with 16.4%
and Elisa Carrio with 14.2%. Menem withdrew from the May 25 runoff election after polls
showed overwhelming support for Kirchner. President Kirchner took office on May 25,
2003.

name="political">GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Democracy returned to Argentina in 1983, with Raul Alfonsin of the country's oldest
political party, the Radical Civic Union (UCR), winning the presidency. Three general
elections followed in the next 16 years--a remarkable feat in Argentine political
history--with the Justicialist Party (PJ) candidate Carlos Menem winning two and the
UCR's Fernando De la Rua one.

President De la Rua was forced to resign in December 2001
after bloody riots. A legislative assembly elected Adolfo Rodriguez Saa to serve out the
remainder of De la Rua's term, but he too failed to garner political support in the face
of continued unrest and resigned that same month. Yet another legislative assembly then
chose Eduardo Duhalde to succeed Rodriguez Saa. Duhalde took office on January 1, 2002,
in the midst of a profound economic crisis and a widespread public rejection of the
"political class" in Argentina, a rejection directed at all three branches of government.
Another factor contributing to the perception of institutional instability in Argentina
was conflict between the three branches of government in early 2002, culminating in the
legislature's attempt to impeach the members of the Supreme Court.

Despite widespread concern, democracy and democratic
institutions survived the crisis, and Nestor Kirchner has taken firm hold as
President. Since taking office, he has focused on building his political strength from
the 22% popular vote he received in national elections April 27, 2003. He has encouraged
changes in the Supreme Court and the military and undertaken broadly popular measures
such as raising the minimum wage, pensions, and the lowest government salaries. As of
mid-2004, however, Kirchner’s high approval ratings were showing some decline, with
some analysts pointing to concerns over crime and public security as the
cause.

Argentina's constitution of 1853, as revised in 1994,
mandates a separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches at the
national and provincial level. Each province also has its own constitution, roughly
mirroring the structure of the national constitution. The president and vice president
are directly elected to 4-year terms. Both are limited to two consecutive terms; they are
allowed to stand for a third term or more after an interval of at least one term. The
president appoints cabinet ministers, and the constitution grants him considerable power,
including authority to enact laws by presidential decree under conditions of "urgency and
necessity" and the line-item veto.

Since 2001, senators have been directly elected, with each
province and the Federal Capital represented by three senators. Senators serve
6-year terms. One-third of the Senate stands for reelection every 2 years. Members of the
Chamber of Deputies are directly elected to 4-year terms. Voters elect half the members
of the lower house every 2 years. Both houses are elected via a system of proportional
representation. Female representation in Congress--at nearly one-third of total
seats--ranks among the world’s highest, with representation comparable to European
Union (EU) countries such as Austria and Germany. Female senators include Christina
Fernández de Kirchner, who was a nationally known member of the Senate before her
husband was elected President.

The constitution establishes the judiciary as an
independent government entity. The president appoints members of the Supreme Court with
the consent of the Senate. The president on the recommendation of a magistrates' council
appoints other federal judges. The Supreme Court has the power to declare legislative
acts unconstitutional.

Political Parties

The two largest political parties are the Justicialist Party (PJ--also called Peronist),
founded in 1945 by Juan Domingo Peron, and the Union Civica Radical (UCR), or Radical
Civic Union, founded in 1890. Traditionally, the UCR has had more urban middle-class
support and the PJ more labor support, but both parties have become more broadly based.
Smaller parties, such as rightist Action for the Republic (AR) and the
more-leftist-leaning Argentina for a Republic of Equals (ARI), occupy various positions
on the political spectrum, and some are active only in certain provinces. Historically,
organized labor--largely tied to the Peronist Party--and the armed forces also have
played significant roles in national life. However, labor's political power has declined,
and the armed forces are firmly under civilian control. Repudiated by the public after a
period of military rule (1976-83)--marked by human rights violations, economic decline,
and military defeat in the 1982 Falkland/Malvinas Islands conflict--the Argentine
military today is a downsized, volunteer force.

Government Policy

The reform agenda remains incomplete and was put on hold in the face of the late
2001-early 2002 acute political and economic crisis. The Central Bank's independence was
challenged, and the reform of the state has not yet been completed. Although the
government's broad policy remains one of allowing private initiative to operate and the
government continues to work toward a Free Trade Area of the Americas, President
Kirchner’s government has said it would increase the role of the state in an effort
to boost economic growth and recovery.

Principal Government Officials

President--Nestor Kirchner

Minister of Foreign Affairs--Rafael Bielsa

Ambassador to the United States--Jose Bordon

Ambassador to the Organization of American States--Rodolfo Gil

Ambassador to the United Nations--Cesar Mayoral

Argentina maintains an embassy in the United States at
1600 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington DC 20009; tel (202) 238-6400; fax (202) 332-3171.
It has consular offices in the following locations: 245 Peachtree Center Ave., Suite 2101
Atlanta, GA 30303, tel. (404) 880-0805, fax (404) 880-0806; 205 North Michigan Ave.,
Suite 4209 Chicago, IL 60601, tel. (312) 819-2610, fax (312) 819-2612; 1990 Post Oak
Blvd., Suite 770 Houston, TX 77056, tel. (713) 871-8935, fax (713) 871-0639; 5055
Wilshire Blvd., Suite 210 Los Angeles, CA 90036, tel. (323) 954-9155, fax (323) 934-9076;
800 Brickell Ave., PH1 Miami, FL 33131, tel. (305) 373-7794, fax (305) 371-7108; 12 West
56th St., New York, NY 10019, tel. (212) 603-0400, fax (212) 541-7746; 1600 New Hampshire
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009, tel. (202) 238-6460, fax (202) 238-6471.

ECONOMY

Argentina's economy began a recovery in March 2002 that has been far more
impressive and robust than anticipated by leading international and domestic analysts. In
2003, an export-led boom triggered an 8.7% surge in real gross domestic product (GDP).
Industrial activity and construction activity also performed well, growing 17.9% and
37.8%, respectively, in 2003. Domestic car sales and exports increased 105.4% and 19.2%,
respectively, in 2003. Tourism activity boomed: Argentina received 3.3 million foreign
tourists in 2003, a record high. The expansion is creating jobs and
unemployment dipped from 17.8% in May 2003 to 14.5% in December 2003. Investment in
real terms jumped 38.1%, and capital flight has decreased. The recovery’s strong
impact on revenue levels, combined with the Kirchner administration’s prudent
control of spending, achieved exceptional results, with the fiscal surplus reaching 2.3%
of GDP.

Meanwhile, the move to a market-based exchange rate regime
and high global commodity prices have lifted exports to record levels and assured hefty
surpluses in the trade and current account balances of the balance of payments. The
favorable balance of payments performance and Argentina’s non-payment of its
private debt obligations has allowed a strong accumulation of foreign exchange reserves,
which have reached nearly $17.7 billion, representing 15 months of current imports. The
demand for pesos increased in 2003 and the first half of 2004 due to the recovery of
economic activity and the appreciation of the peso. Argentina’s Central Bank has
deftly managed monetary policy in support of the economic expansion, while maintaining
inflation in check (consumer inflation was restrained at 3.4% in 2003). Banks are now in
the black, and net credit levels to the private sector are positive.

Argentina’s impressive recovery is a function of a
number of factors. First, following a decade of market reforms, the economy was
fundamentally sound except for the high level of indebtedness. Second, the adoption of a
market exchange rate and favorable international commodity and interest rate trends were
catalytic factors in the export-led boom. Argentina has sound fundamentals and should
continue to perform well in 2004, with growth projected to be in the 6%-8% range.
Nevertheless, slowness in addressing energy, public debt, and banking compensation
difficulties and a still-weak investment climate are major obstacles to sustaining the
recovery.

Foreign Trade

In 2003, foreign trade equaled about 33.7% of GDP--up from 11% in 1990--and plays an
increasingly important role in Argentina's economic development. Exports represented
about 23% of GDP in 2003, up from 14% from 2002. Argentina’s trade surplus was
$15.5 billion in 2003.

The United States recorded trade surpluses with Argentina
every year from 1993-2001, as Argentina's firms increased purchases of capital goods
during that period. This trend reflects the Argentine Government's policy of encouraging
modernization and improved competitiveness of industry through relatively lower tariffs
on capital goods. Argentina’s exports to the U.S. were $3.1 billion in 2003, while
imports were $2.2 billion, leaving Argentina a $0.9 billion trade surplus. The U.S. took
10.5% of Argentina’s exports in 2003, and provided 16.3% of its imports.

Although Argentina's trade patterns may be affected by the
factors outlined above, its major export markets are likely to remain Southern Cone
Common Market (MERCOSUR) countries, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
countries, and the European Union. These same areas are likely to remain the principal
sources of Argentina's imports as well.

MERCOSUR Trade Pact

MERCOSUR, the customs union that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay,
remains the cornerstone of Argentina's international trade policy. Close cooperation
between Brazil and Argentina--historic competitors--is the key to the integration process
of MERCOSUR, which includes political and military elements in addition to a customs
union. Chile and Bolivia have become associate members. MERCOSUR members are active
participants in the negotiation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). MERCOSUR
also continues to pursue an active program of trade negotiations with other countries and
regional groups, including Mexico and the European Union.

Argentina adheres to most treaties and international
agreements on intellectual property. It is a member of the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Argentine Congress
ratified the Uruguay Round agreements, including the provisions on intellectual property,
as Law 24425 on January 5, 1995. However, extension of adequate patent protection to
pharmaceuticals has been a highly contentious bilateral issue. In May 1997, the U.S.
suspended 50% of Argentina's generalized system of preferences (GSP) benefits because of
its unsatisfactory pharmaceutical patent law. In November 2000, after years of protracted
debate, a new patent law took effect, and a number of pharmaceutical patents were issued.
This law improved earlier Argentine patent legislation but provides less protection than
that called for in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
(TRIPS).

In April 2002, negotiations between the Governments of the
United States and Argentina clarified aspects of the latter's intellectual property
system, such as provisions related to the patentability of microorganisms and the import
restriction regime. In addition, the Government of Argentina agreed to amend its patent
law so as to provide protection for products obtained from a process patent and to ensure
that preliminary injunctions are available in intellectual property court proceedings,
among other steps. Congress was expected to pass the outstanding amendment by the end of
2003. Finally, on the outstanding issues that remain, including data protection, the U.S.
Government retains its right to seek resolution under the WTO dispute settlement
mechanism. In return, the U.S. Government is committed to considering all Argentine
requests to expand market access for Argentine products as soon as U.S. legislation
reauthorizing trade preferences under the GSP is enacted.

Investment

U.S. investment is concentrated in financial services, telecommunications, energy,
petrochemicals, food processing, and motor vehicle manufacturing. However, the economic
crisis and subsequent government decisions clouded the country's investment
climate, and many U.S. firms substantially wrote down the value of their Argentine
investments. Other major sources of investment include Spain, Chile, Italy, France,
Canada, and Japan. Several bilateral agreements generated significant U.S. private
investment during the 1990s. Argentina has an Overseas Private Investment Corporation
(OPIC) agreement and an active program with the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Under the 1994
U.S.-Argentina Bilateral Investment Treaty, U.S. investors enjoy national treatment in
all sectors except shipbuilding, fishing, nuclear power generation, and uranium
production. The treaty allows for international arbitration of investment disputes, and
some U.S. investors are currently pursuing arbitration claims against the Government of
Argentina.

NATIONAL
SECURITY

The president and a civilian minister of defense control the Argentine armed forces. The
Interior Ministry controls the paramilitary Gendarmeria (border police) and the
Prefectura Naval (coast guard). The Argentine armed forces maintain close defense
cooperation and military supply relationships with the United States. Other countries
also have military relationships with the Argentine forces, principally Israel, Germany,
France, Spain, Italy, Brazil, and Chile.

Lack of budgetary resources is the most serious problem
facing the Argentine military today. Current economic conditions and the government's
commitment to reduce public sector spending have slowed modernization and restructuring
efforts. Argentina's traditionally difficult relations with its neighbors have improved
dramatically, and Argentine officials do not see a potential threat from any neighboring
country. MERCOSUR has exercised a useful role in supporting democracy in the
region.

FOREIGN
RELATIONS

In recent years, Argentina has had a strong partnership with the United States in
support of UN peacekeeping. Argentina was the only Latin American country to participate
in the 1990-91 Gulf war and all phases of the 1994 Haiti operation. It has contributed
Argentine soldiers and policy to UN peacekeeping operations worldwide. In recognition of
its contributions to international security and peacekeeping, the U.S. Government
designated Argentina as a major non-NATO ally in January 1998. Argentina has been an
enthusiastic supporter of the Summit of the Americas process and has served as chair of
the Free Trade Area of the Americas initiative. At the UN, Argentina's positions have
often coincided with those of the United States. Argentina supported efforts to improve
human rights in Cuba and the fight against international terrorism and narcotics
trafficking. However, Argentina was reluctant to contribute troops to the Coalition
forces in Iraq in 2003, and raised diplomatic relations with Cuba back to ambassadorial
status in 2003. Along with a number of its neighbors, Argentina contributed peacekeeping
forces to Haiti in 2004.

Eager for closer ties to industrialized nations, Argentina
left the Non-Aligned Movement in the early 1990s and has pursued a relationship with the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It has become a leading
advocate of nonproliferation efforts worldwide. A strong proponent of enhanced regional
stability in South America, Argentina has revitalized its relationship with Brazil;
settled lingering border disputes with Chile; discouraged military takeovers in Ecuador
and Paraguay; served with the U.S., Brazil, and Chile as one of the four guarantors of
the Ecuador-Peru peace process; and restored diplomatic relations with the United
Kingdom. In 1998, President Menem made a state visit to the U.K., and Prince Charles
reciprocated with a visit to Argentina. In 1999, the two countries agreed to normalize
travel to the Falklands/Malvinas from the mainland and resumed direct flights.

U.S.-ARGENTINE
RELATIONS

President George W. Bush and President Kirchner met in 2003, and many senior U.S.
officials visited Argentina to discuss issues of mutual concern. The Office of the
Secretary of Defense and the Argentine Ministry of Defense hold an annual Bilateral
Working Group Meeting, alternating between Argentina and Washington DC.

U.S. Embassy Functions

The U.S. Mission in Buenos Aires carries out the traditional diplomatic function of
representing the U.S. Government and people in discussions with the Argentine Government,
and more generally, in relations with the people of Argentina. The excellent political
relationship between the United States and Argentina is increasingly reflected in the
U.S. Embassy's efforts to facilitate cooperation in nontraditional areas such as
counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, and scientific cooperation on space, peaceful uses of
nuclear energy, and the environment. The Embassy also provides a wide range of services
to U.S. citizens and businesses in Argentina. Officers from the U.S. Foreign Service,
Foreign Commercial Service, and Foreign Agricultural Service work closely with the
hundreds of U.S. companies which do business in Argentina, providing information on
Argentine trade and industry regulations and assisting U.S. companies starting or
maintaining business ventures in Argentina. Officers from the Department of Treasury are
also present.

Attaches accredited to Argentina from the Department of
Justice--including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation--U.S. Customs, the Federal Aviation Administration, and other federal
agencies work closely with Argentine counterparts on international crime and other issues
of concern. An active, sophisticated media environment, together with growing positive
interest in American culture and society, make Argentina an uncommonly receptive
environment for the information and cultural exchange work of the U.S. Embassy as well.
The Fulbright fellowship program has more than tripled the annual number of U.S. and
Argentine academic grantees since 1994.

The Embassy's Consular Section monitors the welfare and
whereabouts of more than 20,000 U.S. citizen residents of Argentina and more than 300,000
U.S. tourists each year. Consular personnel also provide American citizens passport,
voting, notarial, Social Security, and other services. With the end of Argentine
participation in the visa waiver program in February 2002, Argentine tourists, students,
and those who seek to work in the United States must have nonimmigrant visas. The
Consular Section processes nonimmigrant visa applications for persons who wish to visit
the United States as tourists, students, temporary workers and other purposes, and
immigrant visas for persons who qualify to make the United States a permanent
home.

The Department of Defense is represented by the U.S.
Military Group and the Defense Attaché Office. These organizations ensure close
military-to-military contacts and defense, and security cooperation with the armed forces
of Argentina.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

Ambassador--Lino
Gutierrez

Deputy Chief of Mission--Hugo Llorens

Political Counselor--Phillip Egger

Economic Counselor--Perry Ball

Commercial Counselor--Brian Brisson

Consul General--Gregory Frost

Science & Environment Counselor--Kathleen Barmon

Management Counselor--Gustavo Mejia

Defense Attaché--Col. William A. Dalson, USAF

U.S. Military Group Commander--Col. Michael Borders, USA

Public Affairs Officer--Mark Krischik

The U.S.
Embassy and Consulate General in Argentina are located at 4300 Colombia Avenue in the
Palermo district of Buenos Aires. Mission offices can be reached at by phone at (54)(11)
5777-4533/34 or by fax at (54)(11) 5777-4240. Mailing addresses: U.S. Embassy Buenos
Aires, APO AA 34034; or 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Other Contact Information

American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina

Viamonte 1133, 8th floor

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Tel (54)(11) 4371-4500; Fax (54)(11) 4371-8400

U.S. Department of Commerce

Office of Latin America and the Caribbean

International Trade Administration

14th and Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20230

Tel (202) 482-2436; (800) USA-TRADE; Fax (202) 482-4726

Automated fax service for trade-related information: (202) 482-4464.

TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION

The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides Consular Information
Sheets, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements. Consular Information Sheets
exist for all countries and include information on entry requirements, currency
regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and security, political
disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the country. Travel Warnings
are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain
country. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information
quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that
pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Free copies of this
information are available by calling the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or
via the fax-on-demand system: 202-647-3000. Consular Information Sheets and Travel
Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: href="http://travel.state.gov/">http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for
Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and
planning a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be purchased from
the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone:
202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.

Emergency information concerning Americans traveling
abroad may be obtained from the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225.
For after-hours emergencies, Sundays and holidays, call 202-647-4000.

The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the
U.S. Department of State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S. passport
information. Telephone: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). Customer service representatives
and operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern
Time, excluding federal holidays.

Travelers can check the latest health information with the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at
877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at href="http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm">http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give
the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and
advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled
Health Information for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280) is
available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202)
512-1800.

Information on travel conditions, visa requirements,
currency and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest to
travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a country's embassy and/or
consulates in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal Government Officials" listing in
this publication).

U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in
dangerous areas are encouraged to href="http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/registration/registration_1186.html">register
their travel via the State Department’s travel registration web site at href="https://travelregistration.state.gov">https://travelregistration.state.gov or
at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a
short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact
you in case of an emergency.