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German Defense Minister Starts S. American Tour
German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping arrived here Saturday for a three-day official visit to Chile, the first leg of his South American tour, which will also take him to Argentina and Brazil.
Chilean Defense Minister Mario Fernandez met his German counterpart on Saturday to discuss security issues and military cooperation between the two countries.
Fernandez told a news conference after the meeting that he discussed with Scharping the defense and security issues as well as the mechanisms to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
The German minister noted that for Germany, Latin America is an indispensable partner in international peace-keeping missions and in the efforts for arms control and disarmament.
Besides some private activities, the German minister is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with Chilean senior officials and legislators over the weekend.
On Sunday, he will call on Chilean President Ricardo Lagos at the Cerro Castillo Palace, residence of the South American leader in Vina del Mar, 120 kilometers northeast of Chile's capital, Santiago.
Scharping will leave here for Argentina on Monday to continue his South American tour, which will be concluded with his visit to Brazil starting on May 25.
The German defense minister planned to meet Argentine President Fernando de la Rua, his counterpart Jose Horacio Jaunarena, and some representatives of the Defense Commission of Argentine Congress during his visit to the country.
Meanwhile, he'll meet Brazilian Defense Minister Gerardo do Magela da Cruz Quintao, Foreign Minister Celso Lafer, and President of Defense Commission of Brazil's National Congress Helio Costa at his last stop in Brazil.
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