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RT Spanish 24/7 broadcasting in Argentina became possible as a result of an agreement on cooperation in mass communications signed between the two countries following Russian-Argentinian talks in July 2014.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Hello, Madame President, dear Cristina! The connection is excellent, I can hear you very well.

President OF ARGENTINA CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (retranslated): We are very happy, Mr President, to launch the Russian TV channel to expand and improve the exchange of information between our nations.

We are using our own channels for this, without the mediation of large international networks, which usually broadcast the so-called ‘news’ in their own interests.

Our peoples can communicate without any intermediaries, so that we can convey our own values. And we are very happy to launch a Russian news channel in Spanish as part of Argentina’s national digital broadcast that covers the whole country. A multitude of voices and cultures, and diversified approach in such issues as communications and information.

We are listening.

Vladimir Putin: Madame President, dear Cristina,

Dear Argentinian friends and viewers,

I am genuinely happy to greet you and congratulate you on this landmark event President Kirchner just announced, namely the launch of RT TV channel’s direct broadcasts in Argentina.

Your nation is now getting a reputable and, most importantly, reliable source of information on the events and developments in Russia and worldwide. The right to information is one of the most important and inalienable human rights.

The rapid progress of electronic media has made news reporting enormously important and turned it into a formidable weapon that enables public opinion manipulations. The intense media warfare has become a mark of the times, when certain nations attempt to monopolise the truth and use it in their own interests, as Cristina just said.

In these conditions, alternative information sources become especially needed, and RT is exactly that kind of source, which does not use methods of aggressively imposing its opinions on others, but is always open to discussion, offering its viewers a wide range of opinions on politics, day-to-day life, history and culture. This channel lets people make their own judgements and draw conclusions.

RT TV channel’s broadcasting in Argentina is our joint initiative with the President of Argentina. Madame President has already said that this is the first time a foreign media organisation is being connected to Argentina’s national broadcast grid, which up until now brought together national networks only.

We see this as another important sign of how open the President of Argentina is in her foreign policy, and of the special nature of longstanding, friendly relations between Russia and Argentina, which will be marking their 130^th anniversary next year.

I am sure that launching a Spanish-language, Russian-based TV channel in Argentina will make it much easier for you to understand Russia, my dear friends. This will help to bring the peoples of our two nations even closer together.

I wish peace, health and prosperity to all RT viewers and all citizens of Argentina. I wish you every success, Cristina, and all the best for your country and its people.

Thank you.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner: Mr President, we want to thank you for your words. We absolutely agree with you and share your view that we do not need any intermediaries in our access to information.

We also agree that we should be getting the information first-hand and form our own opinions; we do not need anybody to make that for us.

The global political situation is going through a difficult time at the moment. There is so much violence, so many incidents where double standards are used, therefore, it is absolutely crucial that nations get to know each other better without any intermediaries.

I am absolutely convinced that the new RT TV channel, which will be broadcast via Argentina’s digital television, will help expand the relationship between Russia and Argentina, strengthen brotherhood, and improve our knowledge of one another.

It will help the Argentinian citizens, including the children of Russian immigrants, to understand the real Russia. And also, it will help Russians to learn the real Argentina, unlike the way the international media and the so-called ‘national’ media portray us. We welcome you, and we welcome the new channel of information exchange between us, which will benefit not only Russia and Argentina but the entire world. Because when nations get to know one another better, they can share the truth about them with other nations and help de-escalate international conflicts, which are taking place in many parts of the world today, affecting global peace and security.

We agree that it’s crucial to resolve all conflicts in accordance with international law. We support multilateralism and the peaceful coexistence of all nations, and we believe we should respect other countries’ sovereignty, just as the Russian Federation does, as well as their national identity and their authentic culture.

Thank you very much, Mr President, for giving your time to Argentinians, and I want to thank both our counties for our efforts in establishing this communication channel at a time when real-time information exchange is so crucial. Thank you very much.

We are now implementing one of the agreements that had been signed during your visit. Thank you very much, Mr Putin!

Vladimir Putin: Madame President, I remember that visit. I would like to thank you once again for your warm hospitality. Our nations share 130 years of diplomatic relations, and today, we have a lot of shared interests.

Russia and the world have seen you stand up for your nations interests. This should set an example for many, and we will certainly support you in pursuing your objectives, which are absolutely legitimate.

We will continue to promote our relations and do everything to improve the lives of our citizens.

Thank you very much!

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner: Thank you very much, Mr President. Kindest regards to you and all the people of Russia.

Thank you very much!