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Opinion
"It’s difficult
to have an opinion on Argentina," says Federico Castellucci
Federico Castellucci, General Director of the
OIV, talks to Diario del Vino and says that it is difficult
to have an opinion about “an apparent Argentinean crisis”
and that he supports the country’s decision of changing
its status from full member to observer member. He admits
the difficulties that arise in establishing a stable internal
politics, that prevent the reestablishment of its old status
in the OIV: “I’m positive that it will be
a full member by October.” |
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Special
report from Verona (Italy)
by Roberto Martín Actis,
Diario del Vino
correspondent in Europe
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Does the OIV
have an updated or different treatment towards wines from
the New World?
- The treatment is the same for all member states. If
a country works within the commercial and enologist practices
adopted by OIV, it cannot be rejected by
any other member state. This ensures international trade.
- In which stage would we find the coming Argentinean
acceptance?
- So far, Argentina has been an observer member who has
greatly contributed with the OIV. In order for it to become
an active member, an international treatise - that demands
the Legislative Power’s agreement and
the President’s approval- must be signed.
The treatise must be then sent to France, and then it is activated
within a month.
- Wasn’t Argentinean admission to this congress
supposed to be imminent?
- It has just been a matter of days, but since we have
rules to abide by and we cannot make an exception with Argentina,
we cannot officially announce its admission. I must admit
that the efforts of the Federal Institute for the Grape-growing
and Wine Making Industry in Argentina have accelerated the
process. We understand that the political stability in that
country has meant an obstacle to the signing of the treatise
that will son lead to Argentina to become a full member country.
We have an extraordinary meeting by the end of October and
I am positive that Argentina will be present as a member country
on that occasion.
- Since in 2001 Argentina stopped paying the installments
of country membership: How can this crisis; in your opinion,
have an influence in its new status?
- First of all, let me tell you that there wasn’t
a suspension in the payments. There was a restructuring within
the OIV and member countries had to go through
the admission process for becoming country members again.
In those days, Argentina was undergoing a
major crisis, and it decided to change its status to observer
country. I think of this as an accurate decision, since a
country’s compromises must be in accordance with its
payment possibilities, and Argentina has
promptly paid the quotes as an observer member.
Following,
from the point of view of wine, which is a sector I am very
familiarized with, I wouldn’t speak of an Argentinean
crisis; much on the contrary, I think it has an excellent
future. Let’s consider the case in Russia,
for example. From all the wine this giant imports from the
New World, 85% is Argentinean. Argentina
will constitute a main Southern protagonist.
Now, about the other crisis, I cannot comment on it
because it is a very complicated issue to analyze.
- What can we expect from your next management after
today’s reelection?
- I will increase the relationships with countries from
the Mediterranean zone, both members and non-members, in order
to strengthen their participation, especially in the area
of grapes and raisin grapes. I will also continue enhancing
the active compromise in the development of the relationships
with Asian countries, in order to get the
adhesion of China, India
and other countries from that region. Similarly, I will also
work towards the establishment of a formal relationship with
the European Union and I will also explore new contacts within
MERCOSUR.
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June
23rd, 2008
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