The Latest: Obamas tango at Argentina state dinner
The Latest: Obama: US slow speak up for rights in Argentina
(about 13 hours later)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The Latest on President Barack Obama’s visit to Argentina (all times local):
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The Latest on President Barack Obama’s visit to Argentina (all times local):
9:35 p.m.
11 a.m.:
President Barack Obama is giving Argentina’s famed tango dancers a run for their money.
President Barack Obama says the United States was slow to speak out for human rights in Argentina during a dark period in that country’s history.
Obama was taking in a tango performance during a state dinner in his honor when a female dancer in a shimmering gold dress beckoned him to the floor. At first, Obama declined — multiple times.
But he says his administration is trying to make amends by declassifying even more documents that could shed light on the U.S. role in what is known as Argentina’s “Dirty War.” Thousands of people died or went missing following a 1976 coup that opened a period of military rule.
Eventually, Obama relented, joining the dancer for a few turns on the dance floor.
Obama says what happened in Argentina isn’t unique to Argentina.
First lady Michelle Obama got in on the action, too, pairing up with a male tango dancer.
He says it takes courage for a society to address uncomfortable truths about its past, but that doing so is necessary to move forward.
Argentine President Mauricio Macri hosted the Obamas for.
Obama spoke after visiting Remembrance Park and its memorial to the victims.
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8:25 p.m.
President Barack Obama says his trip to Buenos Aires “is a new beginning” between the United States and Argentina.
Obama is being honored at a state dinner in Argentina by President Mauricio Macri. He says the world has noticed Macri’s eagerness to re-engage Argentina with the world community.
Macri says Argentina recognizes Obama’s visit as a gesture of friendship. He says Argentina developed with the same values as the U.S.
The dinner is taking place at Latin America’s biggest cultural center, overlooking the Buenos Aires waterfront.
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6 p.m.
Argentina’s leader is offering President Barack Obama a ride. On a folding electric bicycle.
The government says President Mauricio Macri gave the bicycle to Obama on Wednesday. Obama is on a two-day, state visit to Argentina.
The CMYK 4.0 model bicycle was designed by Argentine Manuel Saez, who also spent several years in New York.
The bike’s website says its 250-watt motor can travel 30 miles on one charge. The bike is expected to cost $1,600 when it goes on sale.
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4:40 p.m.
10:45 a.m.
President Barack Obama says a solution for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict isn’t going to happen during his tenure.
President Barack Obama and Argentine President Mauricio Macri walked slowly together along the Monument to the Victims of State Terrorism at Remembrance Park. The monument, similar to the Vietnam War Memorial in the United States, contains the names and ages of 20,000 victims of Argentina’s “Dirty War” under the country’s former military leadership.
He says the conflict has been going for 60 years. It’s not going to be resolved in the next nine months.
The leaders paused halfway down the wall as a guide pointed to the tiles featuring scores of names.
Obama’s comments come as he was asked at a town hall with young Argentinians whether it’s possible to create a “bi-national state” containing leadership from both sides.
Both presidents walked to the edge of the waterfront along the Rio de la Plata and each one tossed a white wreath into the water.
Obama says he doesn’t believe a “one-state solution” or divided government would be stable because there is so much distrust between the Jewish people and Palestinians.
Before departing, Obama and Macri paused briefly to gaze at a small statue rising from the water.
Obama says he believes the only way to resolve the issue is to have a two-state solution.
He says Israelis and Palestinians both have legitimate fears, but when it comes to making peace, “we can’t do it for them.”
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4:10 p.m.
President Barack Obama says he’s “quite optimistic” that researchers will develop a tool to diagnose the Zika virus and a vaccine to treat anyone afflicted with it.
He says countries have to work together, and not in isolation, on the issue because everyone travels these days and diseases are no longer restricted to certain areas.
The Zika virus is transmitted by a particular mosquito and has been linked to a birth defect known as microcephaly, in which babies are born with small heads.
Obama is speaking at a town hall meeting with Argentine youth. He was asked about the potential for scientific collaboration between Argentina and the U.S., and he cites fighting Zika as an example of an opportunity where nations can pool their resources.
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3:50 p.m.
President Barack Obama is telling an audience of young Argentines that he’s always wanted to visit their country since he was young like they are.
Obama, who is 54 years old, is holding a youth town hall at the Usina del Arte concert hall in Buenos Aires.
Visiting with and taking questions from young people has become a hallmark of Obama’s trips abroad.
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2:30 p.m.
President Barack Obama has participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral, the city’s main Roman Catholic church.
It’s also best known as the place where Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio celebrated Mass before he became Pope Francis in 2013. Obama speaks fondly of Francis and warmly welcomed him to the White House last fall. Obama and the pope share an interest in climate change and improving relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Obama entered the cathedral, greeted church officials and walked with Cardinal Mario Aurielio Poli to the altar, where the cardinal said a short prayer in Spanish. Obama then walked to the base of San Martin’s tomb, where it is customary to lay a wreath.
Jose de San Martin was an Argentine general and the chief leader of South America’s fight for independence from the Spanish Empire.
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2:10 p.m.
President Barack Obama says he’s “a big fan of Argentinian culture.” And that now extends even to the country’s favorite beverage: yerba mate (MAH-te) tea.
Speaking at a news conference with Argentine President Mauricio Macri, Obama said he read Argentine literature as a university student and wondered about the mate tea the writers mentioned.
So he says that when he got to Buenos Aires, he tried some and “it was quite good.”
Obama joked that he “may take some home.” In his words, “I don’t know what kind of import and exports controls I may be violating. On Air Force One, I can usually do what I want.”
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1:15 p.m.
President Barack Obama says the United States wants to rebuild trust that may have been lost with Argentina after the country’s military coup 40 years ago.
He reiterated a pledge to declassify U.S. military and intelligence documents about America’s role in the military dictatorship from what he called “that dark period.”
The president said he would also visit a memorial to the victims of the dictatorship.
Argentina’s government estimates some 13,000 people were killed or disappeared under force during the crackdown on leftist dissidents, though activists say the number is as high as 30,000.
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11:10 a.m.
A military band played as President Barack Obama arrived at the Casa Rosada, the pink-tinged building that is Argentina’s equivalent of the White House.
An honor guard with swords and red epaulets saluted with white-gloved hands as they waited for Obama on red carpets laid out on the black-and-white marble floors.
Obama and Macri sat together in Macri’s office, joined by their delegations. Macri sat in front of a U.S. flag and Obama sat in front of the Argentine flag. They made no comments to reporters who were allowed a brief glimpse at the start of the meeting.
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11 a.m.
President Barack Obama has arrived at the Casa Rosada for his meeting with Argentine President Mauricio Macri.
Thousands of Argentines lined the streets of Buenos Aires and the Avenida del Libertador, a main thoroughfare through the city, to catch a glimpse of Obama’s motorcade on a crisp, sunny morning.
After the meeting and a news conference with Macri, Obama plans to hold a town hall with Argentine youth.
In the evening, he’ll attend a state dinner in his honor.
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10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
The Argentine government says it’s increasing security for the visit of President Barack Obama in light of the terrorist attacks in Brussels.
President Barack Obama is paying tribute to victims of Argentina’s “Dirty War” during a visit to Remembrance Park in Buenos Aires.
Obama arrived in Buenos Aires early Wednesday, less than 24 hours after multiple attacks in Brussels left 34 dead and hundreds injured.
The visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of the 1976 coup that opened a period of military rule that continues to haunt Argentina. Millions are spent each year prosecuting perpetrators and scouring for the remains of the thousands of people who died or disappeared during that era.
Obama plans to meet with Argentine President Mauricio Macri later this morning, and has several events planned over the next two days.
Obama was using the visit to lay the groundwork for the U.S. to come clean about any involvement. He has announced plans to declassify additional U.S. documents, including military and intelligence records that have never been released.
Security measures include completely shutting down several subway lines, along with cordoning off streets where Obama will travel and around events at which he and First Lady Michelle Obama will participate. While some closures were initially announced, the number jumped after the attacks. Authorities also say they are raising the level of alert along the borders.
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The closures snarled traffic in Buenos Aires. Many residents of Argentina’s largest city decided to take the day off or work from home.
10:10 a.m.
Prominent human rights groups in Argentina are saying they will boycott President Barack Obama’s visit to a memorial for people who died during the South American nation’s dictatorship.
Obama will visit the memorial Thursday morning on the 40th anniversary of a coup that led to military rule and the killing and disappearing of thousands of Argentines.
Obama quelled some opposition to his presence in Argentina on such a sensitive date by announcing last week his administration would declassify thousands of internal documents from that period.
But rights groups say it’s still hard to imagine embracing the president of a country they accuse of backing the dictatorship that killed their children, parents, friends or spouses.
Nora Cortinas of the iconic Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo group says Obama “is a representative of death.”
In her words: “What would victims say if they saw (us) hugging and paying homage to a president from a country responsible for state terrorism?”
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
