III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 18 

Reaffirming the United States-Argentina partnership and recognizing 

Argentina’s economic reforms. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 23, 2017 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. KAINE, and Mr. LANKFORD) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming the United States-Argentina partnership and 

recognizing Argentina’s economic reforms. 

Whereas, on November 22, 2015, the citizens of the Argentine Republic elected Mauricio Macri as their President; 

Whereas President Macri has pledged to promote greater national unity, rebuild the economy, combat domestic corruption, strengthen freedom of the press, defend human 

rights abroad, attract foreign direct investment, return to 

international credit markets, and reassert Argentina’s 

leadership globally; 

Whereas President Macri has emphasized his intention to 

seek closer ties with the United States and restore the bilateral partnership previously enjoyed by both countries; 


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•SRES 18 IS 

Whereas the Argentine Republic is a major non-NATO ally 

of the United States; 

Whereas United States-Argentina relations are historically 

characterized by comprehensive commercial ties and 

strong bilateral cooperation on human rights, peacekeeping, science and technology, non-proliferation, and 

education, as well as on regional and global issues; 

Whereas President Obama traveled to Argentina in March 

2016 to strengthen engagement on issues of bilateral interest, such as trade, investment, energy, security, and 

peacekeeping 

Whereas, in an appearance with President Macri at the Casa 

Rosada in Buenos Aires, President Obama said that ‘‘our 

countries share profound values in common—respect for 

human rights, for individual freedoms, for democracy, for 

justice, and for peace’’; 

Whereas the United States Department of the Treasury no 

longer opposes multilateral development banks lending to 

Argentina because of the Government of Argentina’s 

‘‘progress on key issues and positive economic policy trajectory’’; 

Whereas President Macri prioritized Argentina resolving its 

15-year standoff with private creditors stemming from 

the 2001–2002 economic crisis; 

Whereas the Macri Administration lifted controls on trade, 

currency, and poultry, enhanced the quality and transparency of government data, and eliminated subsidies on 

electricity, water, and gas; 

Whereas, in April 2016, the Government of Argentina issued 

$16,500,000,000 in new government bonds and paid 

$9,300,000,000 to holdout creditors to resolve its default 


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•SRES 18 IS 

settlements, which facilitated Argentina’s return to international financial markets; 

Whereas Argentina is Latin America’s third largest economy 

and the International Monetary Fund, in April 2016, 

claimed the Macri Administration ‘‘embarked on an ambitious, much needed transition to remove domestic imbalances and distortions and correct relative prices’’; 

Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry visited Argentina in 

August 2016 to launch a High-Level Dialogue to develop 

and sustain cooperation on bilateral, regional, and global 

challenges, including democratic development and protection of human rights in Latin America; and 

Whereas Secretary Kerry, during his visit, stated that ‘‘the 

United States strongly supports President Macri’s effort 

to deepen Argentina’s integration with the global economy’’ and that ‘‘our governments will be supporting policies that are aimed at strong, sustainable, and balanced 

economic growth’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) upholds its commitment to the partnership 

3 between the United States and Argentina and reaf4 firms that the Argentine Republic is a major non5 NATO ally of the United States; 

6 (2) encourages the Department of State to co7 ordinate an interagency strategy to increase coopera8 tion with the Government of Argentina on areas of 

9 bilateral, regional, and global concern; 

10 (3) commends President Mauricio Macri and 

11 his Administration for making far-reaching economic 


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•SRES 18 IS 

1 reforms that will benefit the people of Argentina, 

2 stimulate economic growth, and deepen Argentina’s 

3 integration with the global economy; 

4 (4) praises the Government of Argentina for re5 solving its dispute with international creditors; 

6 (5) encourages the Government of Argentina to 

7 continue to investigate and prosecute those respon8 sible for the 1994 bombing of the Argentine-Israeli 

9 Mutual Association (AMIA) in Buenos Aires, as well 

10 as the January 2015 death of AMIA special pros11 ecutor Alberto Nisman; and 

12 (6) expresses its desire that the growing part13 nership between the United States and Argentina 

14 will result in greater cooperation at multilateral in15 stitutions, such as the United Nations. 

Æ 


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