FOREIGN Minister Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett was presented on Friday with the Grand Cross of the Order of the General Liberator of San Martin by her Argentine counterpart Hector Timmerman.  In decorating Rodrigues-Birkett with this high order of the Republic of Argentina, Timmerman paid tribute to the consistent friendship which Ms. Rodrigues-Birkett and the Government of Guyana have demonstrated to the Government and people of Argentina.  Timmerman expressed confidence that both governments were guided by similar political and democratic ideals and convictions.

The decoration was presented during an official visit paid by Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett to Argentina on November 28 and 29, 2013.

During the visit, the foreign ministers discussed areas of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Argentine South/South Cooperation Programme.
They signed a bilateral agreement for the “Free Exercise of Remunerated Activities by Dependent Relatives of Diplomatic, Consular, Administrative and Technical Staff of their Diplomatic Missions, Consular Offices and International Organisations”.
They also took the opportunity to exchange views on the activities of several regional organisations of which their countries are members, in particular the Caribbean Community, the Union of South American Nations and the Organisation of American States.

Ms. Rodrigues-Birkett also met with the Ministers of Defence and Security and officials from the Ministries of Health, Social Development, Agriculture, Tourism and Industry.
At these meetings, there was an exchange of information on the activities undertaken by both countries within the different sectors and discussions focused on potential opportunities for cooperation.  It was agreed that the two countries will work towards the early conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in agriculture that would include cattle rearing.  Also, a mission from Argentina will pay a visit to Guyana in December this year with a view to exploring cooperation in the tourism sector.
Other areas identified for cooperation between the two countries include  post-graduate training for doctors in specialised areas, Spanish language training and military training at Argentine defence institutions.
Cooperation between Guyana and Argentina has intensified since the re-establishment of an embassy in Guyana two years ago.
Rodrigues-Birkett was accompanied by Foreign Service Officers, Heather Seelochan and Jevon Rodrigues.