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Argentina: Presidents unveil statue of Bolivian war heroine

THE presidents of Argentina and Bolivia unveiled a statue in Buenos Aires on Wednesday of Bolivian independence heroine Juana Azurduy.

The 25-ton, 52-foot bronze statue replaces one of Christopher Columbus that was taken down in 2013.

Celebrations were held this week of the monument’s symbolism of the “patria grande” or great homeland, a phrase used to refer to regional integration in Latin America.

The present from Bolivia was unveiled behind Argentina’s presidential palace during an official visit by Bolivian President Evo Morales to his Argentinian counterpart Cristina Fernandez.

Their meeting focused not only on border security and trade agreements between the two nations but also on the history of South America’s independence struggle.

The removal of the Columbus statue led to a political battle between Ms Fernandez’s left-wing government and conservative Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri.

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