Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana resigns, will be replaced by US ambassador Timerman

Argentine Foreign Minister resigns; motive unclear

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina’s foreign minister has resigned, and will be replaced by the South American nation’s ambassador to the United States.

Jorge Taiana blames his surprise resignation on “personal motives” but Argentine news media are reporting that he was frustrated by foreign policy differences with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez. Just what those differences were hasn’t been made public.

Presidential Cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez said Friday that Taiana will be replaced by Hector Timerman, Argentina’s ambassador in Washington.

Taiana has served as foreign minister since 2005 and has been a key figure in the governments of both Cristina Fernandez and her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner. A socialist and human rights activist, he was imprisoned for seven years during Argentina’s military dictatorship.