Buenos Aires, April 2 (RHC-PL) -- Argentine President Cristina Fernandez met in Buenos Aires with visiting Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Ernesto Samper.

The two dignitaries assessed the progress of projects fostered by the regional bloc.

The meeting with the Argentine head of state was Samper’s last event in Argentina, where he paid a two-day official visit. Also on hand were Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman and the General Secretary of the Presidency Eduardo de Pedro, an official statement said.

During his stay in Buenos Aires, the top UNASUR leader met with other Argentine officials, among them the President of the Central Bank of the Republic Alejandro Vanoli, Security Secretary Sergio Berni, and Defense Minister Agustin Rossi, with whom he signed several cooperation agreements.

Samper and the Argentine defense minister announced that the South American Defense School (ESUDE) will be inaugurated on April 17th in Quito, Ecuador.

Samper stressed that the main objective is to create a regional network of military academic institutions with similar training programs.