VZCZCXYZ0036
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0255/01 0341258
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031258Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3297
INFO RHMFIUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000255 
 
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 STATE OF THE UNION, IRAN-IAEA, 
HAMAS, HAITI-ARGENTINA; BUENOS AIRES 02/02/06 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's key stories focus on the State of the Union 
message, noting that Latin America is hardly 
mentioned; the complicated international scenario 
posed by President Ahmadinejad's challenges to the 
UNSC and the Western world; speculation about a 
possible truce between Hamas and Israel, and 
Argentina's key role in supporting Haiti's democracy 
and human rights. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES 
 
- "State of the Union: Latin America, Hardly Mentioned 
in Speech" 
 
Ana Baron, center-left, leading "Clarin" Washington- 
based correspondent, says (02/02) "On very few 
occasions do U.S. Presidents mention our region in 
their traditional State of the Union speeches every 
year. George W. Bush wasn't an exception. However, the 
region was indirectly present. 
 
"Weakened by a year of scandal and political setbacks, 
both on the international and domestic fronts, with 
his credibility at the lowest possible level, Bush 
didn't add anything new to his foreign policy. He 
dedicated most of his speech to Iraq and reiterated 
the arguments for exporting democracy to other 
countries, despite the victory of Hamas, and the 
defiant attitude of Iran's democratically elected 
president. What else could he do? 
 
"However, on the domestic front, he urged to fight 
U.S. addiction to oil, betting on the search for 
alternate energy sources. This is truly new. 
 
".... In his address, Bush didn't mention U.S. 
dependence on Venezuelan oil. But Republican senator 
McCain reiterated yesterday that the U.S. is not only 
dependent on Middle East oil, but also, on Venezuela. 
 
".... Although Bush's plan to overcome U.S. 'energy 
addiction' was received with skepticism, undoubtedly, 
if he decided to implement it, some countries would 
benefit while others would suffer the consequences. 
 
"Bush insisted on the need to establish a program for 
temporary employees while reinforcing borders. This 
proposal affects Mexico mainly because there are 
millions of Mexicans who cross the border illegally; 
but there are also many Brazilians and Argentines who 
do the same." 
 
- "Iran, One Step Away From UN" 
 
Centrist, daily-of-record "La Nacion" says (02/02) 
".... Amid a toughened stance and Tehran's new 
challenges, the five permanent UNSC members will 
present a resolution at the IAEA with the purpose of 
informing the Security Council that Tehran isn't 
meeting its commitments. 
 
"Even though this could be his last chance to avoid 
international sanctions, Iranian President Ahmadinejad 
yesterday renewed his defiant attitude and his threats 
to the Western world. He warned that he will 'resist 
those countries that intimidate him,' while one of his 
government officials confirmed Tehran will go ahead 
with uranium enrichment if the Iran case is sent to 
the UN. 
 
".... According to a high-ranking U.S. State 
Department official, between 30 and 35 UN members will 
agree to send the Iran case to the Security Council. 
Cuba and Venezuela are expected to vote against the 
resolution. 
 
"France, Germany, Great Britain and the U.S. push 
forward this initiative, given that UN inspectors have 
confirmed that Iran has a manual to build nuclear 
weapons, and that Tehran continues with its uranium 
enrichment process, while the Islamic regime says its 
program is only for peaceful purposes. 
 
".... While Russian and Chinese diplomats made a last 
effort to convince the Iranian elite to yield, 
 
Ahmadinejad said all accusations against his 
controversial nuclear program are false, and urged the 
world to avoid making 'a historic mistake' by taking 
the case to the UN.'..." 
 
- "Disturbing Escalation" 
 
Alberto R. Giavarini, former Foreign Minister of 
Argentina, opines in centrist, daily-of-record "La 
Nacion" (02/02) "The escalation of the conflict 
between Iran, the EU and the U.S. with the 
announcement to cancel the diplomatic alternative - if 
the IAEA takes the Iran conflict to the UNSC - must 
not be taken lightly or viewed as mere rhetoric. 
 
"In addition to the underlying risk of rejecting 
international dialogue, made by Ahdmadinejad's regime, 
the Iranian challenge clearly shows the magnitude and 
complexity of the scenarios in which the international 
community will have to move in the next few years. 
 
"This leading case has several dimensions. First, it 
urges Western democracies and those countries that 
respect international legality to prudently assess the 
diplomatic options to solve the conflict in a way that 
satisfies all parties. This option must be evaluated 
mainly by the U.S. because it would force the Bush 
administration to accept the possibility that Russia's 
efforts - of a commercial and strategic interest in 
Iran --, in addition to those of the EU, with the lead 
of Great Britain, might succeed. 
 
"Nevertheless, Tehran's veiled threat to increase 
international oil prices - if the crisis gets worse - 
and the perspective that the White House will have to 
negotiate under extreme pressure with the Iranian 
regime... pose a discouraging perspective. 
 
"In view of this context, and in the long-run, the 
world must re-double efforts so that nuclear energy is 
a safe and viable option for all countries -- an 
initiative that the U.S. and the EU have clearly 
decided to follow. 
 
"In order to meet NPT goals and to allow those 
countries that already have nuclear capabilities - 
such as Argentina - not to lose their positions and, 
at the same time, enable other States to have fair 
access to nuclear energy, it's necessary for the IAEA, 
with UN collaboration, to take action in order to 
maintain the present division between those countries 
that supply nuclear services and those that receive 
them. 
 
"Given that those countries which already reached the 
highest stages of nuclear services - such as Argentina 
- shouldn't set aside their efforts, while the rest 
also have the right to access the benefits of nuclear 
energy, long-term multilateral agreements ought to be 
outlined...." 
 
- "Hamas Says it Might Discuss Truce with Israel" 
 
Leading, center-left "Clarin" says (02/02) "While 
Europe, the U.S. and the NPA pressure Hamas to abandon 
violence and recognize Israel, a leader of that 
radical movement confirmed he's willing to discuss 
with the 'international community' the possibility of 
a truce with the Jewish State. 
 
"A truce between Hamas and Israel 'is still an option 
and we might discuss that issue with the international 
community,' said Abu Marzuk in Damascus. 
 
".... (But) Marzuk, member of the political bureau of 
the radical Islamic movement, said 'Hamas won't 
recognize the occupation. The Palestinian people 
aren't interested in negotiations because the power 
scale is different and because, so far, Israel hasn't 
recognized the rights of the Palestinian people.' 
 
"These declarations add to the complex game of 
competing declarations between Hamas, the NPA, the 
Israeli government and the international community, 
which began a week ago after the surprise landslide 
victory of the radical movement in the Palestinian 
elections. 
 
 
".... On Monday, another Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, 
urged the U.S., Russia, the EU and the UN to hold 
'sincere and direct talks, without concessions.' 
 
"In response, the four countries offered Hamas between 
two and three months to set aside violence and 
recognize the State of Israel. A proposal that was 
rejected by the radical group. All in all, despite 
this lukewarm progress and backtracking, the doors 
aren't completely closed...." 
 
- "Options" 
 
Pablo Ceron, leading, center-left "Clarin" 
international columnist, writes (02/02) "It's time for 
pragmatism in the Middle East. The abrupt change in 
the political scenario following Hamas' unexpected 
landslide victory imposes a new and unexpected dynamic 
in the region, where everything has a very precarious 
tint. The only possible option for the Islamic group 
to head a future Palestinian government is to moderate 
its extreme position vis--vis Israel. It's a second 
step. It already took the first one when it decided, 
for the first time since its creation in 1987, to 
access power via the ballot-boxes. The challenge to 
rule is very big. In addition to the sensitive 
political situation there's a deep economic crisis. 
Reality calls for a solution to problems, not to 
complicate them even further." 
 
- "'Argentina Must Remain in Haiti'" 
 
Leading, center-left "Clarin" runs an op-ed by Cesar 
Mayoral, Argentine representative at the UN, which 
says (02/02) ".... Argentina's participation in Haiti 
is positive because it prevented a bloodbath and 
stopped the country from becoming a dictatorship. 
 
".... For Haiti to come out of its tragic situation 
isn't easy. MINUSTAH is there and Argentina is part of 
it to ensure the arrival of a democratic government 
that will begin the State's reconstruction, laying the 
foundations of development. Isolationism and 'leaving 
Haitians on their own' wouldn't help Haiti. On the 
contrary, reactionary forces would prevail. And this 
would show a complete lack of responsibility and 
hemispheric solidarity. 
 
"This is why we believe Argentina must remain in Haiti 
a little longer, supporting the democratic process and 
respect for human rights. 
 
".... Our country ought to play its role of regional 
stabilizer and defender of democracy and human rights 
in Latin America and the Caribbean...." 
 
¶3. To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
The Media Reaction Report reflects articles and 
opinions by the cited news media and do not 
necessarily reflect U.S. Embassy policy or views.  The 
Public Affairs Section does not independently verify 
information.  The report is intended for internal U.S. 
Government use only. 
 
GUTIERREZ