ITU/93-8
8 June 1993
Original: English
PRESIDENT MENEM OF ARGENTINA
VISITS ITU1 HEADQUARTERS 
The president of Argentina, His Excellency Dr Carlos Saúl Menem visited this morning ITU Headquarters and met Dr Pekka Tarjanne for an hour-long official visit. During the meeting, Dr Menem and Dr Tarjanne reviewed the world telecommunication situation and exchanged views on the development of telecommunications in Argentina.
ITU Secretary-General recalled that that the close links between the Argentina Republic and the ITU have been transcendental. "They have been strengthened through cooperation in large-scale projects." he said. 
Dr Tarjanne hailed the very active role which Argentina has taken ever since its adhesion to the Union in 1889. To demonstrate tangibly the solidarity of the Republic of Argentina and its support to the Union's activities, President Menem and Dr Tarjanne signed a Declaration formally inviting the first World Telecommunication Development Conference to be held from 21 to 29 March 1994 and pledging to ensure that "the success of the World Telecommunication Development Conference constitute a real contribution to enabling access to the social, cultural and economic benefits of telecommunications to all inhabitants of every region of the Earth". 
"It is in Buenos Aires", stated Dr Tarjanne, "that, in 1952, the ITU took the first measures to to assist developing countries in the development of their telecommunication infrastructure and decided to set up a technical cooperation programme to this end." "It is also in Buenos Aires", he added "that will take place the first World Telecommunication Development Conference, bringing to a close the first cycle of regional development conferences aimed at leading to great advances in the crucial problem of regional telecommunication development and which are already showing concrete results", the Secretary-General said. "The Buenos Aires Conference is called to become a historic event in the area of telecoms development and the betterment of humankind." Dr Tarjanne concluded. 
President Menem reviewed the great progress made in his country towards the improvement of telecommunication. "Argentina has privatized its basic telephone networks which are today in full expansion. Cellular telephony is in progress and should cover the entire territory in a very near future. The satellite system was set up under the initiative of the Government and is developed and operated by private companies", Dr Menem said. "But, in a country with a large territory, rural telephony has been stepped up to assist rural populations in better managing the country's natural resources." he added.
Expressing his satisfaction at the response of the ITU to the development needs of Argentina, Dr Menem also praised the assistance and cooperation received from the ITU in the past. To further the existing relations between the ITU and Argentina, a cooperation agreement was also signed. The agreement aims at strengthening the National Telecommunication Commission – the telecommunications regulatory authority of the country responsible for the application of the legislation in force as well as for the shaping of the regulatory environment of the country for the years to come. This function is particularly important in the context of the vast restructuring of the telecoms sector currently under way in Argentina and of the privatization of the national telecommunication company – ENTEL, and the introduction of competition in the provision of telecommunication services. 
The project, of a value of nearly US$3 million will be executed by the ITU in collaboration with the national authorities over the next three years. Advice to the NTC will focus on legislation, monitoring and spectrum management and quality control. Training of counterparts will also rank high in the tasks to be undertaken. 
"I would not have wished ending my journey to Geneva without visiting ITU Headquarters, as evidence of the importance which my Government attaches to one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy of our times, indispensable instrument in the development process and for the well-being of our people and of all mankind." Dr Menem declared at the conclusion of his visit.