Vote outcome won't hurt Argentina, Russia ties

Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner and Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday reaffirmed a strategic alliance between their two countries ahead of Argentine presidential elections Sunday.

The leaders said in a videoconference they expected strong relations to continue no matter who wins in the elections.

Kirchner ends her second term in office in December, and her party's candidate Daniel Scioli is leading in the polls.

"We hope that the new governing team continues the policy of strengthening relations with Russia," Putin said.

Kirchner said she was "sure that whoever wins the elections will continue to deepen this relationship."

Trade between the two countries totalled $2.1 billion in 2014, with Russia running a $621 million surplus.

Putin said Russia supported Argentina's call at the United Nations for an overhaul of the rules on restructuring sovereign debt.

"We share your firm posture against the speculative funds that base themselves solely on the decision of US judges," Putin said.

Argentina has been locked in a protracted legal battle with a group of US-based hedge funds that have refused debt restructuring and demanded full repayment for bonds on which the country defaulted in 2001.

Kirchner met with Putin in April in Moscow, during which they agreed on Russia's participation in the construction of a nuclear power plant in Argentina.

Source: AFP