VZCZCXYZ0015
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1162 1641542
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131542Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8400
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001162 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, 
WHA/EPSC 
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; T.I.P. REPORT; MIDDLE EAST; 
ARGENTINE-VENEZUELAN TIES 06/13/07 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Key international opinion pieces today include the Argentina section 
in the Trafficking in Persons report issued by the Department of 
State; what the U.S. and other leading countries are doing to put an 
end to the current flare-up in the Middle East; and Argentine First 
Lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's comments on Argentina's 
economic growth and its ties to the Chavez's Venezuela. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS 
 
- "Criticism of the country focused on the T.I.P." 
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for 
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (06/13) "In the US view, Susana 
Trimarco de Veron is one of the eight 'heroes who are acting to put 
an end to modern slavery' all over the world. She is still looking 
for her daughter, Marita, who was kidnapped five years ago by a 
prostitution ring protected by politicians, police officers and 
judges from Argentina's northwestern region. 
"Susana Trimarco de Veron's accomplishments were acknowledged in the 
'Trafficking in Persons' Report, which was issued by the US 
Department of State and which criticized the work carried out by 
Argentina's national and provincial governments for their lack of 
willingness to put an end to the problem. 
"According to the report, 'Argentina is a source, transit, and 
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the 
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor,' which 
places the country on a 'watch list' along with Mexico, Egypt, 
China, Libya, Russia, Cambodia, Armenia and Mozambique, among 
others. 
"... The (US) central point of criticism of Argentina is the delay 
of its Congress in passing legislation to fight trafficking in 
persons. A second-ranking USG official told 'La Nacion,' 'it is hard 
to think of any legislator who could be against such legislation.'" 
- "A history of mistakes" 
Marcelo Cantelmi, leading "Clarin's" international editor, opines 
(06/13) "One of the aspects that contributes to the current crisis 
in the Gaza Strip and the Middle East is the US impetus to encourage 
democracy in that region, which only seems valid as long as power is 
in the hands of those blessed by the White House. And this has not 
been the case. 
"In January 2006, Hamas obtained a landslide election victory... The 
immediate reaction was a total financial blockade imposed on all the 
territories and particularly the Gaza Strip. Tension mounted in an 
increasingly complex scenario... and after that the war against 
Hezbollah took place, which left it with a feeling of victory that 
reinforced the role of Iran's Shiite theocracy in the region... 
"By the end of last year, the first clashes between Hamas and Al 
Fatah occurred due to pressures for new elections in order to remove 
extremist Muslims from power. A solution including a government of 
unity seemed to cool down the crisis, but, again, the US, Israel and 
Europe chose to reinforce the blockade, thereby blocking a political 
way out that could have deprived hawks some power. The barrel [of 
oil] has been lit and now the flame seems unlikely to extinguish." 
- "Cristina Kirchner defends Chavez" 
 
Luis Lauge, on special assignment in Geneva for daily-of-record "La 
Nacion," writes (06/13) "... Cristina Kirchner bluntly defended both 
the Kirchner administration's 'model for growth' as well as 
Argentina's ties to the Hugo Chavez's Venezuela. 
 
"During the Qs-and-As segment following her speech at the 
International Labor Organization, she said 'Venezuela cannot be 
absent from integration nor can we overlook (the fact) that it is 
one of the largest oil producing countries in the world. As long as 
(Venezuela) sticks to democracy, we should not be carried away by 
phantoms.' 
 
"... While Daniel Funes de Rioja, Chairperson of the ILO Governing 
Body and Chairperson of the Employers' Group, underscored Cristina 
Kirchner's professional and political background, every attendee 
knew quite well that they were meeting with an almost certain 
presidential candidate and, although she did not say it, she behaved 
in that manner." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MATERA