>> i said as i toured the country on that wonderful time and met thousands of you come i said i want my country back and now, folks, i want my life back. i cannot thank everyone for the massive contribution that so many thousands of you have made to helping me do this job, to helping us change the course of british history. thank you. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause]

[cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. ladies and gentlemen, or to morning we have had. in a letter i sent, i asked everyone to provide a sendoff for nigel befitting a man who

has change the course of british history and you did just that, but just to be sure that he got the message, let's have one final cheer for nigel farage. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] >> in just a few minutes we will know who has been elected to take our party to the future, but first let us just spend a few final moments to reflect on what has passed. now, i will remember what things were like a year ago. we got 4 million votes, but

loma-- only one mmp. the election that pushed us over the verge of financial ruin and nigel had just resigned. at times over these last two months they seemed like the good old days. that said, it did not look good at the time, but through the tenacity, dedication and passion of ukip we put our best foot forward. we pick ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and set to what ukip members do best, we campaigned. we engaged with voters, knocked on doors and delivered the arguments that the country needed to hear. one of the things that is frustrated me months-- most of the last few month has been listening to one media outlet after another tell us that it was vote lead responsible for winning brexit.

does anyone in here believe that it was a vote lead? who in here thinks it was ukip? [cheers and applause] >> i am pleased and proud that we worked with all forces and came together at the right time, but be under no illusion as much as the establishment may deny it, not only would there not a been a referendum without nigel and without ukip, but without our party it would not amend one [cheers and applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, that is exactly what we did, we won. we connected with 17 million kindred spirits and now they're just waiting to see what more we can offer. ukip is more important now than ever and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. we are still here and we're still relevant.

we have seen a glaring example of that just in this week with the announcement from theresa may that she is now in favor of grammar schools. an interesting policy that we couldn't have written better ourselves. [laughter] >> in the fact, i think we did. no tax on the minimum wage, a referendum on the eu and now grammar schools. i can't want to see what policy ideas that conservatives will claim to come up with next. it just goes to show that ukip is far more than a pressure group, more than a one issue party and demonstrate how we dried the agenda to this day. in the near future a new leader will meet with the uc to appoint their own chairman and i will go back to being happy. .com. i really has been one of my greatest honors to serve as nigel's last chairman.

i will gleefully handed over to someone else at some point before the end of the month and i will do all our might-- all i can to help and give assistance to grab a except that baton. it's a time for our party to unite, come together and to support our new leader. when we work together, we have proven when the ability to move mountains and now under our new leader we had to look at which mountain we are going to move next. so, i'm incredibly proud now to announce the results of our leadership contest. this contest has been overseen by the electoral reform services who received 17970 votes. in fifth place with 1203 votes is elizabeth jones. [applause].

>> in fourth place, with 1545 votes is phillip broughton. carmack. [applause]. >> in third place with 2052 votes is bill etheridge. [applause]. >> in a second-place with 4591 votes is lisa duffy. [applause]. and so, ladies and gentlemen, it is an absolute pleasure to announce with 8451 votes the leader of the uk independence party, diane james. [cheers and applause]

[cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause]

[cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] >> we did it, ladies and gentlemen. [cheers and applause] >> you did it, ladies and gentlemen. and i have just done it and i am so pleased. [applause]. >> chairman, thank you for that. it's going to take me a little while to come back down to earth

, i can assure you, but thank you for your good wishes and for such a wonderful reception. thank you for everyone who voted and took part in this contest. of my goodness, you have handed over a mantle, but there we go. it is one that i'm deeply honored and i do mean deeply honored. i feel quiet, having come to crimp's-- grips with it and i'm still pinching myself, but i am immensely grateful for what you have done and what you have bestowed on me. just remember, though, where we are and what you have asked me to take on. i was part of that european elections winning team. i have been one of your mps and rough in brussels for two years. and may have not contested the general election seat, but i supported a number of our candidates and just remember, we were a force in a general

election. we really did move mountains in their-- our political landscape. we might well have been handicapped by a flawed and quite frankly morally bankrupt system. [applause]. >> but, absolutely no one can take away from ukip united kingdom independence party the disruption we have caused. can i just mark one particular word shall we say or when particular sentence and that is the days of project a few tactics have had their days. they have had their day, everyone. and we proved why they had their day and we will ensure they never ever rise from the political ashes ever again. [cheers and applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, let's also think the media for being here. [laughter] >> and why are they here? we are about political change movement of the united kingdom. there is more interest in you and this party that i'm sure others would dream of, so thank you, media. thank you very much indeed and we are welcome to have you here and join us. let me go back to people like you come out there in the audience. may be members following going on in terms of the parliament challenge even picking up things on their mobile phone. for me, for the individuals i met in my events across the

country, a huge thank you, but also a huge appreciation for introducing yourself and for making me aware of the talent that we now have out there, for the enthusiasm we now have out there and for those that really do want to see ukip deliver further change in this country. you are the grassroots. that's what you are referred to. you are absolutely no base of this party and on behalf of everyone who so far spoken today may i also enter my thanks to offer anything-- everything you do. now, there are counselors out there and for them they face a huge challenge in 2017. and i can give you his commitment, i will be behind you

i will make sure that you get the support you need and you, wherever you are in this country, in the united kingdom, you will have the backing of the united kingdom independence party winning machine. winning machine. [applause]. >> but, we cannot take our eye off that important elephant in the room, can we? we won a heat your car not even going to talk about battles. on going to talk about keats and races and getting over the winning line. we have only just won a heat. a heat in a 20 member states, olympic competition to lead the european union. i'm very grateful and i appreciate all of the other countries that are now looking to britain and hoping to emulate

what we have done here in their own country. but, and here's the butt, the uk signature is not yet dry on that document. until it is dry on that document , to every single interviewer, to every single person who talks to you-- [applause]. >> just reminded them that until we get a signature, and tell that ink is dry we are still in. they still tell us what to do. they still boss is about. we have to obey everything that goes through the european union various levels of what they report through the democratic process, so just bear that one

in mind if you wouldn't mind on my behalf. now, during my national series of events i outlined my 100 day priorities. and not least is absolute focus on this party's policies and making sure we are about already , race ready for the next general election whenever that might come. we will wisely applied it for the quality of our backers in 2015 and absolutely so. it was independently standing out to the scrutiny from our political opponents and is the best one on the street, which voiced over the country. we have got to do that again, everyone. i'm going to be asking all of you to make a contribution to that and make sure that your views are cast, counted and

included in the policies that we will take forward and put to the united kingdom population to make them aware that we truly are a political force, that we will act on their behalf and we will deliver on their behalf what is necessary for this country. [applause]. >> you've stolen so far our troops in defense spending and tried to steal our grammar schools. i think you will have difficulty getting that one through. just remember when you try to bury ukip, when you throw everything out as, when you try to undermine us, the more lida-- the moral eyes as i registered

member the best ideas that you steal where they came from and in all likelihood where they will come from again in the future. [applause]. >> i will pay my next tribute and it's an important one, it's to my fellow mvp colleagues pick their contribution to that successful general election in 2015, i think sometimes goes unremarked. i work with them on a weekly basis and the caliber of those individuals, the worth-- work ethics of those individuals and the commitment in europe, i think sometimes is undermined and ignored. can i say to each and every one of you, thank you for all of you

do on behalf of this party. i want to you continue what you are doing. i want you to continue being the in their side in bed mattress. most importantly, i want nigel giving them grief as much as he can. [cheers and applause] >> just remember that message we developed. this party, the united kingdom independence party developed for the referendum campaign. the one that some of the other organizations have tried to steal. the one that again you must constantly remind people and that message, remember take back control. take back control. [applause].

>> now, of course, that academics out there, you know, but say they are working hand in glove with our opposition to ignore what we have fought for, what people voted for, what 17.4 million people voted for. they voted to reach out to the world, to reach out to the commonwealth, to the rest of the world, bilateral trade deals. they voted for an hour looking globally successful enterprise building britain that can thrive and survive and really build on the strengths that this country has. they voted to return control to westminster and they voted to control our borders. if any of that is going to be signed away on the brexit light, associated brexit membership or

any other concoction that the conservatives currently would like to put forward, may i remind you again this is what the people army exists for. it's what we will fight for. it's what we will continue fighting for, but my major tribute is to an individual who spoke just before lunch, someone who has given up decades, sacrifice a huge amount, who has handed a mantle to me, who still wants to be beside me as your next leader, who will be a strong proponent of brexit and making sure it's delivered. ladies and gentlemen i'm going to ask you with me to think nigel farage once more. [applause].

[applause]. [applause]. [applause]. >> conference, the european union referendum in the outcome meant that britain or the united kingdom, however you want to style it is embarking on a new era and just is the same for our party, the united kingdom independence party. i am not nigel like. i am not even nigel light.

i will never ever pretend to be so. what i will do is step into his leadership shoes, but i will be doing everything to achieve the political success that he is handing over to me and to you. now, recognize the politics are different scenario than what i have been used to in terms of leading companies, leading boards both of the private and public sector. but, what i do appreciate is that i can be later, but if i'm not leader with you people behind me, that title is meaningless. i can give you this, though, everyone, and absolute reassurance that i believe in ukip's values of, common sense, democracy and pragmatic approaches to the challenges this country faces. my language might be a little

different. are not going to be retiring, so mike nigel i may not be as frank as i might want to be, but i will take one thing you will always get honesty from me on any question that is posed to me as best i can. and i will uphold all of the beliefs and values that this party stands for and let no one suggested otherwise. [applause]. >> professionalism, though, will be top of my agenda. if we are going to reach and achieve the goals that this party is still capable of achieving, then it change is going to have to happen. it's not going to be change for change's sake.

it's not going to be change because i think i ought to change it and i can't justify it. it's going to be because change is necessary and justified. and the caveat and what is behind that will be to provide and make sure we have a winning the political machine under my leadership and with something coming to you, which you know delivers all of your key objectives and makes sure you are part of a winning machine. [applause]. >> lets me answer some of the questions that i have had put to me, so of those that have attracted that would already like to undermine us and bury ukip. the threats to the referendum outcome are increasing by the day. .com. i can tell you this, here are

some answers, no to european union associate membership. no to brexit light. no to single market controls. and no to unrestricted or uncontrolled the freedom of into this country for 450 or 500 million, whatever the european union-- european union looks like by the time i think we will you-- leave. if they come in, they come in on a fair basis, but here are the gases, this is what i want you to believe in and work with me on. yes to a true 100% european union exit. can i be any more clear? [cheers and applause] >> yes to a sovereign independent united kingdom.

[cheers and applause] >> yes to a united kingdom free to make trade deals with whoever and whenever we want. [cheers and applause] >> and yes to an immigration policy that allows entry regardless of origin to those with the skills and expertise and the social values that this country wants. [cheers and applause] >> and may i say, 17.4 million people signed up for those issues, and a declaration. 17.4 million people voted to leave the european union.

that's what independence means. and that's what independence for the united kingdom independence party name means, so don't ignore it. [applause]. >> so, mrs. may, you are now looking and if you are watching tv this afternoon, you will be watching the opposition party and waiting. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause]

[cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] >> and mrs. may, from one grammar school girl to another, stop the fudge and the fast, get on with it. ..

under my leadership, my message to you all, we're going to confound our critics. we're going to outwit our opponents. we're going to build on our electoral success which we've achieved to date, antiwar. and as i said we are the opposition party in waiting, so watch out. but all of you, whatever you are in the united kingdom at the moment, i ask you, support me, work with me, when with me. make you kick the winning machine it will become. thank you, everyone. [applause]

[applause] >> we are going live to hear from argentina's minister of foreign relations and worship, who will speak on the future of a country and u.s. latin american relations. she's also a candidate for u.n. secretary-general. we are live at the council on foreign relations. >> we have only one precious hour. so i'm going to limit my introduction, most

diplomatically, to just a few points that i would like to make about her magnificent achievements. she's been a systems engineer for ibm. she was executive officer of telecom argentina, then the third largest argentine company. chief operating office of the united nations food program. undersecretary general for the newly created you in department -- u.n. department dealing with providing field and financial support for our peacekeeping missions. and last but not least, chief of staff to u.n. secretary ban ki-moon. the minister's remarks and our conversation following are on the record, and with no more words, i'm going to invite minister malcorra to the podium. madam minister.

[applause] >> thank you so much, ambassador. it's a real pleasure to be here, and to be posted in such an important organization related to all matters of common interest in international affairs. i see good friend sitting around the table. it's good to be among friends. i will take a little bit of time to tell you where we are in argentina, and then asked the ambassador said we will be open to questions and we can speak about anything you want, to talk about. but i think it's a duty to start from home and to describe where home is these days. as you know the president took office last december, has been

nine long months of hard work trying to have different approach to argentina, argentina in the world. it is our view. it is the view of the president that in this day and age the only way for us to really get to the point where we need to be from a development, from a consideration of institutions perspective, from the perspective of being a mature democracy, mature country, to do that within a very integrated view into the world. president macri came with a very clear pre-objective set for our government. first of all is initiative of -- a nation of poverty. it is hard to say, it's

heartbreaking in a way but argentina has the poverty level of around 30%, even a little bit more than 30%. such a rich country, such country with so many resources of all sort. it's hard to understand how we are where we are in this field. so the first objective is to eliminate poverty. and this is much in line with the view that the world has on sustainable development, on climate change, all in a manner which will be sustainable long-term. so his first objective, which seems so geared towards the intro perspective of argentina is the marching orders that have asked the foreign minister of argentina. clearly, our job is to bring argentina back to the world,

that is to do it so that we can generate business opportunities, investment opportunities, trade opportunities and away that allows us to create jobs that are sustainable in the long term. not jobs that depend on a particular sub study, not jobs that feel like going from sky, but jobs that are real, that our quality jobs in the long term. so that's the first objective. the second objective that president macri set for ourselves is the fight against narco traffic. this is something that many people do not fully know, but argentina and has evolved to be a country of passage of narcotics of significance.

and in being a transit country, of course once you pass through a place, something always gets left behind. and that something that has been left behind for some time now has created a very, very sad situation in our society. not only of course the use of drugs has increased, but out of that we never have a situation of drug trafficking internally, which is not of the sort of the big cartels we see summer in the world, but they have created tension and has created problems of security that are really serious. and again here, and ask him and the foreign minister of working for closely with colleagues in the different ministers, ministries, to first get as much

lessons learned, information, capabilities coming from countries such as the u.s. but also others, work together with the neighbors, because this is clearly a question that affects the region, in order to attack this horrible, horrible situation that we are facing. so that's the second objective. the third objective that depression has set for us is what in the u.s. public you will say rule of law, but in our terms we call the coming together of the argentinians under democratic institutions. and the notion of coming together, the notion of being able to work with each other, no matter what your view is, where you come from, what your thinking is, and being able to

work out your differences because you have institutions that are solid. that is absolutely critical for a country that has had quite a few rounds of profound impact without having a lasting view of institutions, particularly institutions that have strong democratic roots. so this is what we are doing. it's very simple. it's very complex. the president promised to deliver many things, and i will say that the first nine months, the first six months of argentina, the first six months of this administration proved that what he promised and what he did. and we have reopened, particularly and economic terms to the world, we have a limited all the hurdles -- eliminated --

all the hurdles that existed do business in argentina. the president has taken many bold decisions in this regard, and one of the roles which is good had a huge impact is the agreement with the holdouts. that was there for many, many years and cost our country a lot in terms of opportunities. we are now working on the hardest part, which is to translate all these policy decisions, all these framework decisions into things that impact the lives of each one of the argentinians every day. you know, going from macro to micro is always difficult. that's exactly where we are, and we've launched a very, very ambitious infrastructure plan,

because we have a science of productive argentina that requires to be competitive. and one of the issues we have to be competitive is to update our infrastructure. be that in terms of roads come in terms of railroads, in terms of ports, in terms of energy. you know, argentina having been a net exporter for energy for a long time is now a net importer. so we have to reshuffle and invest in this basic infrastructure needs. not only to make argentina competitive, but also to have a better integration within the south of the continent, it did make sure that we can look at atlantic and pacific in a manner that is absolutely connected and interconnected. so we're working on that. we are working on the question

of bringing interest of private sector investment. we just had earlier in this week and investment and forum on business and investment, and 1500 very, very senior people from companies coming to see what is it that we can offer, both on and initiatives that the government is leading, like the one i just described on infrastructure, but also to see sector by sector where are the opportunities. and, of course, in agribusiness is the key sector for us. passionate that's what the sectors where we are competitive. we produce today food for 400 million people, 10 times our population. we have a plan to become a producer of 800 million people in five years time, and that's part of the need to build and

rebuild the infrastructure to be able to carry that through. and also we are very, very much dedicated to go from being the greenery of the world to being a supermarket of the world. to bring up the value chain and to make sure that we add value in argentina, and we are part of the solution to one of the biggest risks the world faces, which is the food security risk. that is true in many parts of the world, and i think argentina can represent an opportunity in this regard. so we are working sector by sector trying to bring attention to our country. we are working hard not only in the most basic agribusiness as i have described, but also on the other extreme of the latter, which is technology, which is

the natural tendency to be creative that the argentinians have. they have proven so good in the e-commerce come in the i.t. arena, in the technology arena at large, indie media. so we are trying pashtun in the media. so we are trying to describe what are the sectors where we can have a competitive advantage and look for partners that come from all over the world to join efforts with us and invest and create again job opportunities. this is what we're doing. i'm not going to bore you much more with what is it we're trying to do, vis-à-vis argentina and its own challenges. we are doing this, as i said, very, very cognizant that we are immersed in a region that has its own challenges and it's very, very important for us to work well connected to our

neighbors. america being our first priority, and they are we are trying to make sure that we take it to the next level of a closeness in working as a market. we have started the conversation with the european union, exchange of offers on free trade have started. now it's first offers were mutually disappointed have to say, but as always is the case went to work from now on and develop those authors is something that is mutually satisfactory. we are also working in a larger scheme of south america, latin america because it is again very natural that you work in constant circles to see and to integrate yourself in the world. but we are also investing very heavily in our relationship with north america, with the u.s., with canada, with mexico.

we are also working hard in renewing our commitments with the european union. we have a partnership relationship with china, that was started by the prior government, and we have now -- based on the priorities of this new administration, we are looking into business in the rest of the world both in asia, in the middle east and africa. and africa as an opportunity not only as a market opportunity because africa is so much need of some things that we produce, but also cooperation opportunity to try and help develop areas where we have a competitive advantage that can be south, south cooperation opportunity. we have a very, very broad agenda. i would say we have almost no stone left unturned.

that means that we have many fronts and we are trying to do our very best to work in a manner that comes from the concept, big ideas blended into things that make a difference for our people. and without elaborating much more because i don't want to take more time, i will be ready to engage with carla and with you all in a conversation. thank you very much. [applause] >> well, that was spectacular, and i can't tell you how pleased we are to have you with us. thank you. i will ask the minister a couple of questions, and then i will be turning it over to you, so think about what you can ask in very

few words in the short time that we have. but you mentioned -- and many observers believe that it's current setup is the obstacle for vibrant argentina street. and i wonder if you -- let me ask you. what reforms, if any, do you see that mercosur needs to reinvigorate the integration? and some have suggested that if the member number seven free tre agreement, instead of a customs union, they would be much more flexible and what are your views on this? >> it is clear that mercosur -- initial expectations where, particularly both from both

presidents from brazil and from argentina. it's also true that throughout time in the recent history, were still has hidden behind argentina, and argentina has hidden behind brazil. every now and then we took turns. so i think we are facing a huge opportunity now because both countries agree that we need to take a deeper look and we need to go into serious, serious thinking about what is needed. we don't have a particular formula for the solution. what we think is, first we have to be truthful to what we have agreed, which we haven't been, that we need to eliminate all barriers among ourselves, and there are many that are still there. and eventually take a deeper look whether there is a better

model that we could go ahead and take. i hate, and i would be very clear, when we put excuses for ourselves, that we have to invent something new because what is supposed to be working is not working. because while we invent something new, we are creating new excuses not to do things. so all of you is less getting into this is complex to what were supposed to do, in the meantime let's talk about anything that we feel should be of help, and we are ready because the president, as i said, is a very open-minded president and is ready to take on any issue. >> we wish you well in that endeavor. let me ask you another question. argentina has played a role in preventing venezuela from assuming the presidency of

mauricio macri at the deadline has been set of december 1 for argentina to comply with the membership requirement. and tell me, if the political situation continues today as it has with respect to venezuela, what do you foresee? is argentina prepared to vote for venezuela being suspended, dropped from mercosur? >> well, first of all i think we need to be very careful separate the political situation of venezuela from the issue of mercosur. mercosur is a common market. we have other environments, other organizations where we deal with the political issue. we have done a very, very strict review of compliance, and we have some, when i say we, the four founders, not only argentina, the four founders of mercosur.

we found that there are certain questions that basic requisite of compliance that venezuela has not yet adhered to. so ther that were different vien how to deal with this trick andn we all agree they can to give venezuela extra time. dennis winters institutions to approve these. most of these are the approve of it should go to the legislation and should be endorsed. so we are hoping that venezuela will deliver on their commitment to be part of mercosur. should that not occur i think we need to regroup and decide what are the next steps. but there is no intention that venezuela will be dropped out because we hope that venezuela will go into the commitments that were made to begin with. >> in your foreign policy responsibility, let me ask you another question about venezuela.

it is currently hosting the 17th some of the non-aligned movement. there will be i think about 160 delegations that attend, including north korea, iran, syria, and many others. the last summit was held in 2012. what you think is going to come out of this meeting? >> well, i have not been involved in the organization of the meeting. it's clearly a group that, as the name itself indicates, tries to be a neutral, what was at the time the big powers in a bipolar world. the reality is there's no bipolar world any longer. so it's hard to be non-aligned when it is no alignment of any

sort. but, but it's a platform that brings together most of the countries from the south, and that allows to have conversations around issues that they define in their priorities. i don't know what the fees are for the summit. -- the themes. i am of the view that if people want to come together and have a conversation and have exchange, there's no reason why that shouldn't happen. my sense, having been in the lateral organizations for some time, that it's better for people to be sitting and talking than to be fighting. in a way i think it's worth it look at what's happened, and in which added that there will be a sense of belonging to the world. because we have a lot of, agendas that we need to be working on. >> and argentina will participate in?

>> no. argentina is not a member. it used to be. we are not any longer. >> let me ask you another foreign policy issue. for more than a century, argentina and great britain have had a quarrel about the balkan island to the even fought a war in 1982 over the issue. and this past wednesday, just two days ago, the two governments issued a communiqué ending the structures and on a number of industries enabling them to function on the island. and agreeing to allow flights in and out of the islands. and planning, promising to discuss any future shipping, fishing and/or and gas drilling. how do you see these negotiations preceding? what time frame? give us something about, can we see the end of this hundred year

war? >> is not a 100 year war. it's 100 year difference of opinion. which has a war in the middle unfortunately. and what, first of all, we have said we are ready to relate and communicate with the rest of the world as long as the basic principles that we believe in our met. clearly the uk meets these conditions. and we have also said that in relating to the world we believe in the principle of -- you should be aware i'm an engineer. i use sometimes engineering terms. i believe in this 80/20 principle would normally you have 80% of things with whomever you're talking, another country, another person from another institution you can agree on and you were combat.

and 20% were either you don't agree or you agree to disagree or you work to get to an agreement. in the case of -- it's clear what our 20th. we have a deep, deep difference with the uk. it's something that argentina has enshrined in its constitution the right to have it as part of our territory. so this is something that is deeply rooted in our society, in all of us. having said that, we are working on the 80%. i described with quite a few members of the private sector and members of the government. we have a few that this may take long to be totally resolve. but there are things in the

meantime without, without giving up our sovereign right. this is in a communiqué that we signed. we talked about sovereignty. that's the first thing that is there. and in the meantime we have agreed to work better on quite a few fronts. trying to see how we can find ways to jointly work in that area that is so important to argentina as part of its old space. so that's what we're going to do. none of this has a prescriptive timeline but it's a good first step towards again sitting at the table and trying to find solutions. >> you mentioned in your remarks president macri's priorities.

in february came to the council on foreign relations and laid out his foreign policy priorities. and one of them was to develop a more cooperative relationship with the united states. let me ask you, what two or three policy areas which are government like to pursue with washington? and also what would you like to see washington do to facilitate a culture relationship between our two governments? .. he had visited also. we have more details and

leaders from the administration have come to follow through. we are now engaged in political dialogue that is a direct communication at different levels. we're trying to sort out some of the hurdles that we have imposed to each other on trade on some things have come a long way. we are looking for opportunities to see that the decisions taken reflect for example on the credit rating which is something very important is not something that is usually in the hands of the administration i believe they can do it to the financial institutions to have

the responsibility for this. of course we are looking in the corporation with the private sector and against those are important but we are also working more specifically in certain areas and we are incorporating on the second objective which is the fight against that. the strong corporation. between that security institutions we are working on things in that regard and we're also working very closely and correlating with the peacekeeping climate change and things that are of importance to us and also to the u.s. and we have things we can all live with that.

we're glad you're in the position you are. let me remind you this is on the record. ask you to stand and give your name in your affiliation and make your comment or question relatively short so that your colleagues can also participate. >> thank you. i would like to know how that works especially with all that democratic challenge in the region? >> first of all we value that role. we find that at the institution as one of the oldest institutions of that sort in the world. it has some incredible things

established institutions in the human rights aspects and they are significant. we believe that the human rights council and the elements of it are very important the court we really value it. someone ask us we set a clear that they are both different and both of them should be retained. we are very engaged in this. we think is an it's an opportunity for the whole continent to come together within the continent we are invested in that.

[inaudible] i will get it right eventually. i'm formally with the department of state. i understand that you and tina is a candidate for a membership there. can you tell us where that stands please. we have regions for that indicating our interest in becoming a member. but we also felt in our letter that we are interested as long as they are interested as a member. and this is not being there is a reason for this and there's a discussion with the expansion and if it should

continue or maybe the number of members that are there is enough. and being part of that has been in --dash -- many added values. i like to say complying with many of the press corps that they establish puts us in a straight jacket and it's helpful to behave towards the future. as a long-term perspective but it's also true that it's a very heavy investment so we are ready to go for it as long as we have partners that are willing to come along with us. we are trying to get that. we've spoken with most of the leaders seen we are ready to tango. now we can see if everyone else is ready. we feel like it's with --

worth making an investment. we also need to be very careful that politically there is the speed and it's one that they need to be very mindful of. there are so many things on her plate that we need to stagger what is it we do and how fast we do it. and this is something that we have also shared with the members of oecd and we are ready to tango. >> thank you. it's very interesting to listen to your presentation about the objectives and priorities of the government in the broad agenda that is associated with it. my question really is is anything within the agenda that offers some idea about restructuring of argentina's economy which is pretty much a

natural resource base into a modern economy that is competitive. and in this context do you have a model in mind that you want to emulate. is it like brazil versus chile or other that countries. first of all it is true that our country is the natural resource -based economy. it's also true that our countries are one of the richest countries in the world in written natural resources. a long time ago. one needs to build on the strength and then move from there because then when you try to build on weaknesses the work is much more challenging. what is it that we feel would matter. we believe that we have to

build on our competitive advantages and move up as we do that. so clearly agro business is there. the fact that the demonstration eliminated all of the different hurdles that the sector had is now yielding this year 20% more of output in wheat, soybean et cetera. that sector reacts and it's critical for us. we have to and now make sure that we move from being that to the supermarket. there is another area of opportunity that we have

really have missed it throughout our history when you look at what it represents in the gdp of chile and you look at what it represents in our gdp and like when they send that for some reason god put all of the minerals to the west not to the east. so that area is a area we can do a lot. but here again not only the rock mining but building up ability up in the value chain. we have the largest resources in argentina. we have e-mails that are more critical in their advanced technology and so we need not only to exploit the minerals

but that's another area where we are very much in the position of the outside been relatively simple in spite of what we are trying to do. it's clear also that argentina has an opportunity on the softer side of business because there is a well-educated population especially the young population it is very creative as i said earlier. when you look at that in latin america four of the five largest stocks come from argentina and i'm talking about the technology sector. even though there were no incentives in argentina that's another area.

in becoming a service provider to the world is also important. so do we have a single country that will be there. we are trying to look at brett -- best practices the plan for our production and productivity to increase. and we are trying to compare sector by sector and learned from the best ones. it could be in government and the education. if that's the case of minerals but i think we have many things to learn. in the back table the gentleman sitting with a computer. >> thank you very much. i would like to try to topics.

if you could please give us an update on the plan for argentina to receive 3,000 syrian refugees that we haven't heard much about lately. and also to do a follow-up on venezuela. are they ready to say that the mediation done by the three former presidents do they have a significant outcome. and also they invoked a charter and may when the special meeting and since then my question is what should be the next assessment there is a stagnation there. anything you could share i would appreciate it.

>> the president is gonna be going to be making more specific announcements next week but what i can say to you is we put together a plan to expand what argentina had been doing in the past. is not new that argentina is receiving refugees but what we want to do is to do it at a different pace and with a different force. we are expanding the net on how to receive refugees in a manner that allows them to have the coverage when they arrive that they're not left on their own. this is based on a few principles. the first one is that urgent tina is a country of migrants and refugees. many of us have grandparents

that came to argentina they became economic refugees or war refugees. the question of syria requires shouldering by everybody by the world and we are trying to do it on do it in a responsible manner were trying to have the first bunch of 3,000. the two very large populations of the lebanese origin that can be in of hell. that we had five or six governance is they are totally ready to walk him refugees and trying to put together all of these things allows us to feel that we can be productive as

they arrive. having a poverty level of 30% and makes us very responsible for what we do. we said we don't have the proper possibility to bring people in and govern everything because we cannot do that with our own people. we are trying to work with them it allows them to insert themselves. it would be announced by the president next week. i will leave it there. regarding venezuela. first of all we believe that the dialogue is the way to sort out issues.

it's clear that they have broken it twice in a very different way sending different messages. it is there through the process. they were given the power by their people they had decided to do the total majority. what are reading as it is that is that they have told the leadership come together and sort this out. in that regard we are looking for the dialogue that is there. you said that nothing else happened with the dialogue i would not be so absolute.

there's some use in our view. you may have seen it. they've sent a letter with the good offices to interview we have a push for that for long time and we believe with the authority of pope francis in the world but particularly in this region there is an opportunity to sort things out into help them find a solution in a way forward. we still bet on that and were trying to do our very best hoping that that is the way to go. particularly because the other options interview are really

not good options. and then on the other years it's true it was able to perform his view on the democratic side. and now it's been discussed among them. that democratic umbrella. that has been discussed and there will be conversations in the next weeks among the mistakes but all of these is not something that happens overnight. it takes time.

i think because of that. >> thank you. i thought it was very interesting you know they did a few things that were interesting before becoming the president we flew there on the same day. this has a lot of room for us. it's clear that it's the largest partner. it's clear that we cannot think about our self without

think it about brazil. but it's also clear that we believe deeply believe in the perspective of our self. the view of atlantic versus pacific. i would say plain stupid but i would not say that. it's just wrong. so our view is and this was discussed at the time. it's not something new people can say you are starting something. this was discussed then we agreed that there is a combination of the specific that can be there for the circle. after that we were invited to be servers and we decided to

accept the privilege. we think in the end south america and latin america is integration. i would like to say that we measure that to a fault. when you look at the level of integration when you look at the foreign investment within the region doesn't yield much. we need to get serious about integration. and put back in terms that go beyond labels and really get to the heart of it. >> thank you. you mentioned your opening

remarks that it is reorienting its relationship with china in light of the priorities of the current government. clearly the prior administration finds an agreement with china with a partnership. we had decided that that something we want to do but we want in the terms that are in line with what the government feels of the priorities. we've had a very fruitful conversation they already met twice. we will give you examples. in the loss in agreement around a contract signed about

the power plants in the south we look into it in our chinese counterpart has agreed to do it. they have proposed a couple of options in light of our overall study plan on energy. we are discussing with them. there were discussions around a plant that was approved and been developed regarding the set aligned monitory them. the use and application of the base. we said we understand we only have a civilian objective but

we would like to make that clear and we have now an agreement to make that clear. what we had been they are serious players in the region. and we had decided to make sure that our relationship is based on mutual trust and also mutual interests. >> thank you. it's such a pleasure to have you and i would have to also tell you that every single person i know wishes the best of success to that menstruation if we are so lucky to be the secretary general of the un what would

be your top three or five priorities for the united nations. >> this is in the hands of people who decided that. my view on the united nations is that probably it has been over a review over a change in layers you have an organization that is often very functional because different people have taken partial looks on what should be done and in the end the cost of coronation to get things done is such that it is

impossible to be effective. i have a few that it should be issue centric it rallies the troops it causes issues and you sought out you try to build a solution. in which each part of the organization puts its stake in the solution because that is the way to survive. you start to reverse any think about what do they require. so my sense is that the un needs more than reform. many people talk about it.

they need to state practical into find itself in doing so you then start to understand how is it that things should be done and eventually you get to the reform aspect of what is it that should be changed and why. i say this is the first priority because normally people will ask you how will you reform the un. i hate that. i will go into getting things done and i think i had one competitive advantage i'm not an insider with what's needed and i'm enough of an outsider to understand how this should be done. that's how i see my priorities in this organization.

it would be the world and the big problems. it's a strong need to have it planed a very significant role of bridgebuilder this is a moment where things get stuck very often. having the notion to the proposed options and alternatives. and at at the same time be ready should that be necessary to secure neck out and say how many use article 99. those are the issues to the council. it needs to be really in a search of solutions should there be an need a need it. and the other thing is that

one also needs to balance a lot and invest a lot on prevention. not only in business security but also on climate change on the main issues that they're facing today. and coming from the oceans when you look at that we don't do prevention and action soon. that is something they need to look into. he has been a champion of this. clearly not so keen on doing that have a time. and my sense is that the 21st agenda the climate change

agreement and the things that come to duration. >> that was a wonderful response to a very difficult question in many respects in right within our time. the minister has to return to argentina but i think you all agree with me argentina is extraordinarily fortunate to head someone with her background , know-how and brainpower and we as a friend of argentina will enjoy working with you in the months -- months and years ahead. congratulations. for all you're doing. [applause].

[inaudible conversations] book tv brings you 48 hours of books and authors every weekend. saturday at 8:00 p.m. eastern. they talk with the new librarian of congress she is the first woman in african-american to hold the position. then at 10:00 afterwards the new york times president and

ceo mark thompson looks at what he calls the erosion of public language in his book enough said. what has gone wrong with the language of politics he is interim viewed by huffington. it has changed in very substantial ways in the natural shape of policy based on class has become more disrupted and you can feel the big traditional political parties under pressure. they are life from the brooklyn book festival. it is a largest free literary event in new york city. national and international stars. they'd include a discussed on economics.

ralph looks at political parties and aggression. and ed young. takes a look at viruses. good a book tv.org. at today's pentagon ceremony the retired captain who was held for seven years in vietnam taps out on the podium the code he and other pows. when you knew he was down and hurting his feet locked in angles his hands cuffed tightly behind him and he had

been like that for a week or a month you would get up your wall frequently and you would tap to him gigabyte. he knew that meant god bless. you bet you were. he would be up on his wall to encourage you the same way. for example on the flag never forget and e the er

forget. never forget. we all came out of that experience as stronger men in some ways it was like creaming a doctor's degree into the years in prison i would like to leave you this morning with a pow message at the end of every day we would sign off and say good night. god bless america. every single night. they announced plans to leave healthcare marketplace exchanges raising the possibility of less

competition and higher prices. this hearing is about the sustainability of the health care law. [inaudible conversations] ladies and gentlemen i ask all of our guest today to please take their seats. the subcommittee will come to order. the chair will recognize himself for an opening statement. today's hearing is especially timely as we learn startling news over the summer confirming our route worst fears that some of the most significant health insurers are opting out of the care act

exchanges. this is concerning the most basic for individuals pain more to get less. one of the most ambitious aspects was the creation of the health insurance marketplaces proponents of the aca set it would increase market competition and lead to lower costs for consumers and insurers but in fact just the opposite has happened. the health insurance options are now more limited and they had been driven out of the aca marketplace. they had faced numerous problems lower than expected enrollment. and they lead the exchanges. a particular concern are the

persistent vulnerabilities of the application eligibility just this week the government accountability office released two reports detailing the severity of real safeguards. of the 18 fictitious application they made for plans in 201517 received coverage. with one fictitious applicant and rolling enrolling into three different states at the same time. also of interest section 1322 established the consumer operated plan and co-op. these two are feeling.

they were set up to increase competition. only six or in existence. the oversight in investigations on the functionality of state -based exchanges. we will review today and provide a sad remember reminder of the failed promises that they deliver. they have before the committee today some of the very officials who can answer our questions and surrounding these troubling reports. the acting administrator deputy expectorant general i

look for to hearing about the oversight work inducted by the gao as well as the steps taken to improve the co-op programs. they recognize that ranking member of the health subcommittee. >> thank you mister chairman. it went into effect. it is delivered on a principal goal of covering uninsured americans. today 20 million more people have it. this historic dramatic before it. it should not be undervalued. all of this is achieved in the

concert efforts to undermine. underfunding and the inherent challenges of launching a stabilized new marketplace. as we look at the future great opportunities exist to improve the law but we can't take them unless we move from this bitter partisanship. in the past it is for some to accept the aca. to get back to work on behalf of the american people. it was deeply broken. people were sold junk plans at high cost. they were locked on the market. implants could drop you the moment they got sick. as a result the newly insured they are protected from the worst abuses in the industry. the marketplace premiums are

currently 12 to 20% lower than the budget office predicted when it was passed. for hundred and 50 million americans had grown more slowly than before the law was enacted. the marketplace created is a relatively infancy. there is an adjustment timeframe in the first years. we saw that when the programs were created. recent reports of high increase. they have gone with much attention. we have seen similar headlines but on the reality in the ground it as is yet to reflect the doom and gloom. as they navigate the new landscape of millions of new customers it's no surprise that companies are adapting at different rates to the market. they compete for business on

cost and quality rather than cherry picking customers and denying coverage. the affordable care act is working like any law but it's not perfect. it would take an earnest effort on the part of congress in the states in regulators to do fourth solutions. this can only be done if we are honest and separate it. for several reasons it's a unique transition year one reason that the program is designed to support the market. they have a one time effect on costs. we saw this robust outreach efforts. the department of health and human services is also taking the steps such as developing new processes to present this use. and curb abuse. nineteen states also need to expand medicaid.

they're one of the 19 states. 50,000 would have medicaid. if the state expanded it. the law was designed on the assumption that all states would distort the healthcare echo system. they show that not only does medicaid expansion had an enormous economic benefit the stabilization of that. they have improved the law. they are counting on it. and i i look for to hearing from eyewitnesses thank you mister chairman.

i now recognize a german from pennsylvania. this committee began its investigation of the state -based exchanges in the spring of 2015. to utilize billions in federal grant funding. from the 17 original state exchanges and over the course of two hearings we heard testimony from state exchanges leaders and federal officials. the investigation found that it effectively wasted $4.6 billion in grants due to excessively careless management and oversight. we were told that they would be self sustaining.

and afterwards any continues would be illegal. yet today every state exchange is still using federal money. moreover some state exchanges went so far as to violate federal rules and use medicaid dollars to pay for unallowable expenses. the details in finance from the committee investigations are outlined in a report that was released yesterday september 13 in addition to the work that we have done the subcommittee held a hearing last november we examine their factors 17 out of 23 co-ops. they used to monitor the co-ops. it would recoup any of the loans awarded to the failed co-ops. since the hearing in november they had closed leaving only

six of the original 23 remaining. in these failed co-ops have cost the taxpayers a total of $1.8 billion. similar to the state exchanges the committee's investigation into the co-ops found that they were disadvantaged from the start. in flawed premium stabilization programs made it nearly impossible. the mismanagement and ineffective oversight. they felt on numerous occasions. they released a report which found that the majority of co-ops are nearing bankruptcy making it highly unlikely that the remaining six will pay back any of their loans. this will result in the loss of even more taxpayer money and leave hundreds of thousands of americans displaced with insurance coverage. the findings are outlined in our report that we were police yesterday.

i want to know that on behalf of this committee we are deeply troubled by the findings of this investigation. ultimately what we are seen as the affordable care act feeling that the american people the objective of the lot was to provide health insurance to those who could not afford it yet these findings prove that it is accomplishing just the opposite. hundreds of americans have been uprooted from their plans and left without any insurance coverage. recommendations for legislative changes to address the concerns highlighted in the reports. it is my hope that that we are able to have an honest and open conversation about the reality of this legislation and discuss solutions rather than continue to identify the well-known problems. i think the witnesses for testifying today. and now recognizing the ranking member of the oversight investigation

committee. five minutes for the opening statement. >> i had been wondering about the act. do you know the covers treatment for déjà vu. there seems to be a mass outbreak of that on capitol hill when it comes to the aca. here are some of the symptoms. one, between the house subcommittee in the oversight committee as you heard that i'm ranking member of had have over 40 hearings since it became law in 2010. two, we had been through six years of efforts to repeal and undermine the loss. we've seen any number of administration officials some of whom are sitting here today interrogated by hostile members of congress about their work to implement the law. they had been the target of countless letters electing documentation of every single aspect of their work.

but despite the hours and hours spent on these efforts house republicans have nothing to show for it. mister murphy my chairman on the oversight subcommittee just mentioned the recent oversight in investigation here that we had had in our committee. and instead of conducting the good faith review they followed up by targeted thoughtful bipartisan legislation to improve the lot as congress did on other major pieces of healthcare legislation like the medicare part d program that was passed by the republican congress some years ago this congress has used oversight powers to highlight failures over and over again while offering no solution. as we just heard from mister murphy we had had two hearings this congress on the state insurance marketplaces. but again we again here today about how some states struggle to set up exchanges and make

them work as efficiently as possible. as you heard we have a hearing earlier this congress about the co-op. the fact that many of them including one in my state of colorado has failed while facing challenges. this is not news folks. what would be news is if the majority would actually sit down with us and try to work out some solutions to help more and more americans get affordable inexpensive healthcare insurance. i'm not saying that these issues are not worth congressional attention but what i am saying as it is time to stop having this dance over and over again and it's time to start figuring out how we can affix the affordable care act. highlighting the solutions are making important course it requires a willing congress and at this point my colleagues on the other side

of the aisle don't seem to be willing to admit to the public that the law has actually helped millions of people and it simply needs fixing rather than being repealed. in conversation privately with me many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle offer thoughts that perhaps we could work on this together in the next congress. in the meantime all were doing is having hearing after hearing and wasting a lot of time in money that could be spent giving more insurance to more people on these hearings. let me just in the final remaining seconds that i have remind people of what the aca has done even with the flaws that it has. we had had historic reductions in the number of uninsured people in this country. they reported last week that the uninsured rate is at a historic low. the lowest that we've had in four decades. that is in a compliment. is the passage 20 million

previously uninsured americans now have coverage. this includes millions of young adults who could not stay on now stay on their parents plans until age 26. i want to inject a personal note. my daughter everybody knows just graduated from college she's 22 years old. she is also a type one diabetic. she just left to go teach in madrid for a year and she is on my insurance and because of the affordable care act she can to get thrown off of my insurance because she has a pre-existing condition or because she is over 21 in furthermore we were able to get her a years worth of diabetic supplies before she left. there's are thousands of families in the united states who are benefiting in the way my family has. and i will fight until the end to make sure that they can keep these benefits and we can keep expanding it so that every american has high

quality health insurance. i yelled back. >> i now recognize mister up then. thank you. so in 2009 the american people were promised a new health care system when that would give them a one-stop shop to choose a plan that would be affordable and of course at that time we remember the president saying president saying you will have your choice of a number of plants that offer a few different packages but every plan would offer an affordable basic package. so six years later the facts tell a different story. major health insurers leave as many as one third of counties 17 co-ops have now closed their doors.

they cost them nearly $2,000 resulting in tens of thousands of americans without a plan. and today just 12 states are running their own exchange. premiums are off the charts. competition is dramatically declined. all in all the average patient is left paid for fewer choices. karen tells us she paid $700 for insurance she and her kids are in the process of choosing between having a home and how having health insurance. she said my insurance is doubled please you have to do something to help me and help the hard-working middle-class in this country. lisa lives about an hour east. it's a plan with a $3,000 deductible. she paid less than $300 a month for her family's health care. my bet is she wishes she have the plane she have before.

greg lives with his wife of 40 years. it's a disaster. has been from the start. i think he is right. they are promised that as many as 21 million individuals would get coverage by the end of 2016. even with that employer mandates it set to come in at about half. they had offered a better way to help patients get to keep health insurance. a push -- it puts patients first. it also keeps patients on their parents insurance until their 26 and well not deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. we want to lead the world in treatments. outlined in the 21st century.

it found that solutions would in fact lower premiums by ten to 35% increase access to doctors and boost medical productivity all while cutting the deficit by nearly half a trillion dollars over the next decade. everyone in michigan they deserve access to quality and affordable healthcare. thank you mister chairman and think you all for being here to talk with us today. we do realize that the affordable care act is unaffordable and it is indeed on shaky ground as the hearing title reflects. i will spend some of my time today talking about the special enrollment and i come from tennessee we have it. we know the special enrollment

and we have a tendency to get these programs into trouble lack of verification inappropriate times. all the times what you do is end up with a plan that is on shaky ground without a ballot risk polls. as you look at the imbalance with these. i do have legislation in the plan verification that would get to the heart is a problem that worsens everything all day and when you have an sep where there is not appropriate oversight or due diligence then you do end up with the imbalances in these risk so we look forward to the hearing.

five minutes for opening statement. >> think you mister chairman. this'll be the tent hearing on the law. just as congress and what i continue to hope that they will come to their senses and finally hold the hearing to improve at the aca unfortunately once again this will not be that day it's clear that the gop just wants to repeal and continue to point out problems with the healthcare system in general. ..

however since this report analyzes data collected prior to the implementation of the aca insurance exchanges, it does not shed light on whether these changes have affected market concentration. we will be discussing a report that is a continuation of the gao fake shopper investigation in which gao used fake identities and documents to attempt to enroll in college for the health insurance marketplaces and medicaid. let me start by saying i will continue to be critical of the way gao carried out this investigation. it's inconceivable anyone would be skilled enough for motivated enough to try to fraudulently gain health insurance coverage this week, particularly since there's no possible scenario which an individual can financially gain from gaming the system. even if someone were to obtain of insurance with fraudulent