Argentina Needs 'Creativity' To Access Credit Mkts-Econ Min

BUENOS AIRES --The Argentine government will need a lot of "creativity" to access global credit markets, Economy Minister Amado Boudou said Friday.

"We'll need to look for alternatives," Boudou, who replaced former economy minister Carlos Fernandez last week, said in a radio interview. "We have to look at what the best measures are to access the markets. We shouldn't stick with what's traditional."

Boudou, who came to the Economy Ministry after heading the social security agency, Anses, said Argentina will maintain its fiscal surplus in 2009.

"We're going to take all the measures needed to protect it," he said.

Even so, Boudou said nobody should expect the government to "adjust" policies in a way that implies cutting programs or benefits.

"That has to be totally discarded," he said.

Boudou indicated he will pursue the same kind of policies that have characterized Argentina's government in recent years.

"We need to redouble our effort to maintain this course and continue improving the situation," he said.