Argentine Official Calls for More Trade on Orange County Visit

Argentina’s vice president arrived in Orange County on Thursday with a message for business and government leaders: The South American country wants a “more intense exchange” of trade with the United States.

Victor H. Martinez told some 200 members and guests at a World Affairs Council of Orange County luncheon that his country’s trade has been favorable with the Soviet Union but “this is not the case with the United States.”

A protectionist environment has led to higher interest rates and less available credit from world lending institutions, Martinez said. During a press conference earlier, he said, “The trend of Argentine trade has been directed toward socialist countries.”

Improved Trade

But now, the vice president said, Argentina wants to improve its exchanges--in goods, tourism, science, technology and culture--with the United States. The country welcomes foreign investment, either on its own or in joint partnership with Argentine companies, Martinez said.

To stress his pitch, Martinez described positive changes in Argentina’s political and economic life since its shift to democracy three years ago with the election of Raul Alfonsin as president. And he characterized the government’s intent to relocate the capital from the crowded city of Buenos Aires to the Patagonia as a move that will generate much-needed jobs outside Buenos Aires and bridge what Martinez called a rift between the provinces and the current capital.

The United States, Martinez told the luncheon crowd at the Newport Beach Marriott, should promote investments, increase exports and imports and be “more confident in an increase of trade” with other democratic governments, such as Argentina.

Supports Continued Talks

Asked for Argentina’s reaction to the developing controversy surrounding the sale of arms to Iran and the apparent diversion of funds to the U.S.-backed contras battling Nicaragua’s government, Martinez said there are still too many questions to form an opinion. Martinez emphasized “dialogue as an instrument” to end the war in Central America and said that he supports continuing talks between the contras and the Nicaraguan government.

“We believe that any bellicose introduction could produce another Vietnam or another conflict,” Martinez said in Spanish.

On Thursday morning, Martinez, his wife, Fanny, and other Argentine guests were greeted by city and county officials during a ceremony at Santa Ana’s Civic Center Plaza.

Martinez met Tuesday with Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and was to travel to San Francisco Thursday night to meet with business leaders.