A congressional delegation
led by Senator Thad Cochran (Missouri), the Chairman of
the Senate Agriculture committee visited Uruguay from January
6-7.
Sen. Cochran, four other
senators, spouses and staff spent two days in Punta del
Este, Montevideo and Colonia, meeting with Uruguayan officials,
participatants in a U.S.- sponsored agriculture program,
artist Carlos Paez and touring the cities.
Senators Patrick Leahy
(Vermont), Pat Roberts (Kansas), Mike De Wine (Ohio) and
Norm Coleman (Minnesota) accompanied Sen. Cochran during
the visit. They met with President Jorge Batlle, Agriculture
Minister Aguirrezabala, Deputy Foreign Minister Valles.
They joined a second Congressional delegation, led by House
of Representatives Speaker Hastert for a dinner reception
at Ambassador Martin J. Silverstein's residence. Numerous
other Uruguayan political and business leaders attended
the dinner.
During their wide-ranging discussions with
the President and others, they touched on several themes
of common interest between the US and Uruguay. These included
agricultural and trade issues, human rights, terrorism and
drugs, the Uruguayan and US economies and issues related
to regional, political and economic development.
Senator Cochran also had the opportunity
to greet Uruguayan scholars who participated in the Cochran
Fellowship Program, a program that began its inception in
1984 under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA). Cochran Fellows were able to share their learning
experiences with Sen. Cochran first-hand.
The Congressional delegation’s
South American tour included visits to Brazil, Uruguay,
Argentina and Chile.
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| Ambassador Martin J. Silverstein greets
Senator Thad Cochran at airport in Punta del Este. |
Ambassador Silverstein
with Senate delegation. |
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| Agriculture officials including Minister
of Agriculture Martin Aquirrezabala (third from left)
meet with delegation in Punta del Este. |
Ambassador Silverstein, Sen. Cochran
meet Ricardo Romero and Dr. Theresa Boyle of APHIS office,
U.S. Embassy, Montevideo, at Casa Pueblo. |
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| Acting Foreign Minister Guillermo Valles
receives gift from Sen. Mike Dewine (left), while Ambassador
Silverstein looks on. |
Sen. Norm Coleman with
artist Carlos Paez. |
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| Sen. Cochran and Ambassador Silverstein
show prints from Paez. |
Sen. Cochran gives gift
to Paez. |
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| Mrs.Audrey Silverstein
leads group of spouses on tour of Parque de la Percepcion
in Punta del Este. |
Spouse group at Hotel Las cumbres Restaurant
in Punta. From left: Renee Savastuk, Community Liaison
Office Coordinator of the U.S. Embassy, Mrs. Silverstein,
Las Cumbres owner Roberto Mulieri, Mrs. DeWine, Mrs.
Roberts, Mrs. Webber, Mrs. Leahy and Mrs. Williard,
wife of James Williard, Deputy Chief of Mission. |
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| Delegation with the Silversteins and
Paez and his wife, Annette, at Casa Pueblo. |
Sen. Cochran (center) arrives
in Colonia. Consular Officer Steve Barneby is at left.
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| President Batlle and Sen.
Cochran at Anchorena. |
President Batlle speaks
with Senators at Anchorena. |
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| Mrs.
Batlle leads tour of Anchorena with Mrs. Silverstein
and delegation spouses. |
From left: Mrs. Silverstein, Senator
Pablo Millor (of Uruguay) , Sen. Cochran, Ambassador
Silverstein at a dinner reception hosted by the Silversteins.
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