On the picture Jane Berger de Salvador and H.E. Horacio Salvador Ambassador of the Argentinian Republic to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Argentina celebrated the 200th anniversary of its independence from Spain with fireworks, parades, speeches, and military spectacles across the country. Festivities extended to The Netherlands, where H.E. Ambassador Horacio Salvador and Jane Berger de Salvador together with the embassy staff welcomed more than 600 guests to the Argentinean residence in Wassenaar.
A delegation of 50 members of the Argentinean Navy’s sailing ship and school vessel A.R.A “Libertad” arrived in the port of Amsterdam as part of its 45th training trip, and led by the ship’s commander, attended the reception.
Other guests included Dutch officials and civil servants, representatives of the Royal House of Orange, members of international organisations, the diplomatic corps, businesspeople with bilateral economic ties to Argentina, representatives of the culture, sport and media sectors, and many members of the Argentinean diaspora in the Netherlands.
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The impressive residence and gardens were full as never before, with an animated crowd in a festive mood tasting fine Argentinean wines and empanadas among many other delicacies. Besides the popular wine tent, there was a Dulce de Leche’s tent where the Chef of Establecimientos San Ignacio S.A. prepared pancakes and waffles with a delicious sweet spread. Argentineans are noted mate drinkers, and hot mate imported to the Netherlands was also served.
The Institute for the Promotion of Argentina’s Met sent a selection of high quality beef to be served on this special occasion. The Argentinean restaurant brand Gauchos, with more than 36 years’ experience in the Netherlands serving Argentinean wines and met, installed three parrilas where Daniel Verón, master chef of Gauchos, and his team prepared asados in front of the guests.
A soprano accompanied by an accordionist interpreted Aurora, and the Fragata Libertad’s band performed the National Anthem. It is a significant anniversary year for the country which is also celebrating 100 years since famed writer Jorge Luis Borges’ birth.
Borges fans are celebrating the occasion with international conferences and the publication of several new biographies. An academic journal has been dedicated to the study of Borges, and a university in Denmark has a center devoted to him.
The stay of the frigate Libertad in the Port of Amsterdam was particularly relevant because of the Bicentennial of the Independence of the Argentine Republic on July 9th but also clear reflected the excellent historical ties and the strengthening of bilateral relations between the Argentine Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Shortly after assuming the Presidency of Argentina, President Mauricio Macri held an official meeting in January 2016 with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Queen Maxima at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
From there, an active exchange of official visits and delegations took place: the visit of the Argentine Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Carlos Foradori, to the Hague last May; the journey to Buenos Aires in June of the Mayor of the city of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan, leading a commercial and technical delegation; the visit of Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders, to Buenos Aires this July; and the visit of Dutch Minister for Agriculture, Martijn van Dam, to Buenos Aires at the head of a business delegation in September.
The frigate “Libertad” is one of the biggest sailing ships (Tallships) of its kind and has the specific mission to train the graduating naval cadets and enable them to practice and apply the technical knowledge learned in the Naval Academy.
It also performs a task as goodwill ambassador and bearer of peace and friendship, carrying a message from the Argentine people to all the nations of the world. This is one important mission entrusted by the national government.
