SAO PAULO, May 2 (UPI) -- Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim tried Monday to downplay talk of strained relations with neighboring Argentina.
"Relations between Brazil and Argentina have been good," affirmed Amorim during a developing countries' meeting in Paris, Estado de Sao Paulo reported in its online edition.
Talk of a row between the two nations erupted earlier Monday when a leading Argentine newspaper wrote in an editorial that Argentina President Nestor Kirchner said "the time has come to harden relations with Brazil."
Clarin newspaper -- citing an unidentified diplomatic source -- wrote that Kirchner is tired of Brazil taking the lead on all matters Latin Americam and for Brazil's lack of support in Argentina's recent dealings with the IMF.
