VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1177/01 1661525
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151525Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8416
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001177 
 
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; THE LATIN AMERICAN POPULIST MODEL; THE 
OUTCOME OF THE G8 SUMMIT; VISA WAIVER PROGRAM EXPANSION; 06/15/07 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's international leading stories cover Latin America's populist 
model; the lack of progress made by the G8 summit in terms of the 
social and environmental agenda; and the Visa Waiver Program. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS 
 
- "The hypnotic populist model" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an op-ed piece by writer Marcos 
Aguinis, who opines (06/15) "No populist regime has managed (or 
seriously wanted) to put an end to poverty, boost open education or 
discourage fanaticism. Their programs are not intended to achieve 
sustained and steady development. They are not interested in 
protecting individual rights or the rule of law... 
 
"... The populist model cannot help but fuel hatred... Peron versus 
the oligarchy and opponents, Evo Morales versus white men, Chavez 
versus the wealthy..., Kirchner versus the '90s... 
 
"... The populist model also boosts utopia, this is to say, the 
promise that it is making progress towards a wonderful future. It is 
a phantom that is tenaciously repeated, just like blaming others and 
the past to hide their own inefficiency... The hypnosis of repeating 
that brilliant accomplishments have been made through the current 
populist model and that it will achieve even better results is 
confusing although convincing. Meanwhile, we are all satisfied with 
the mediocrity of moving aimlessly. 
 
"... In such a framework, one may not expect genuine and abundant 
investment nor can we Argentines expect that the billions of dollars 
sent abroad will ever return to the country... 
 
"The democratic (non populist) socialist model of Chile, Brazil and 
Uruguay is free from all the vices mentioned. They do not practice 
the hypnosis of personalism, they do not manipulate the media, they 
do not use their budget in a discretionary way, they do not 
encourage hatred, they do not despise the rule of law, they do not 
infringe on judicial stability, they do not disqualify opponents, 
they do not scare investment away but encourage it..., they are open 
to world trade, they do not distort C.O.L rates to deceive citizens, 
and they are even careful of language. This is why they grow faster, 
are predictable and more reliable." 
 
- "The wealthy countries' global debt" 
 
Leading "Clarin" editorializes (06/15) "The G8 summit held in 
Germany this year had more impact due to circumstances than to real 
progress, which was certainly limited regarding its central issue, 
climate change. 
 
"The disagreement between the US and Germany resulted in a minor 
commitment to lowering green gas house emissions. Western European 
countries proposed a 50 per cent reduction by 2050, but the USG is 
against assuming specific goals that will not include growing 
countries and emerging powers like China and India. 
 
"For the time being, wealthy countries are again in debt with 
respect to expectations. They dishonored the Millennium Development 
Objectives regarding cooperation on developing countries... The 
focus of attention shifted from the social and climate agenda to the 
strategic choice of building an antimissile shield, which 
re-established arm-wrestling between the US and Russia." 
 
- "The US - the visa system is reported to change only by the end of 
the year" 
 
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
writes (06/15) "Argentines who are interested in traveling to the US 
without a visa will have to be patient and not be disappointed if 
they cannot do it in the short or medium term. As reported yesterday 
by 'Clarin,' the legislation that could allow Argentina's entry into 
the Visa Waiver Program has already been approved by the US Senate. 
An assistant to Republican Senator George Voinovich told 'Clarin' 
'It still has to be passed by the Lower House and some aspects of 
the legislation will need to be reconciled in conference.' 'We think 
that, if everything is OK, the legislation will be in force by the 
end of the year.' 
 
"Meanwhile, the Press Office of the US Embassy in Buenos Aires 
issued a release highlighting that 'no change has been introduced to 
the Visa Waiver Program yet, and Argentine citizens traveling to the 
US still need a visa.'" 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MATERA