VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0396/01 0481931
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171931Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3518
INFO RHMFIUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000396 
 
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 NEW AMBASSADOR IN ARGENTINA, 
GUANTANAMO, HAITI; BUENOS AIRES 02/17/06 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Papers lead with the quick approval of Ambassador 
Wayne's 'agrement', underscoring that he's a good 
choice to iron out the differences following the 
Summit of the Americas, and that the move is another 
sign of both countries' interest in improving 
bilateral relations. The Guantanamo controversy and 
the proclamation of Preval as Haiti's President also 
garner media play. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES 
 
- "U.S. Appoints New Ambassador" 
 
Center-right, daily-of-record "La Nacion" says (02/17) 
"In a clear political gesture, and in less than 24 
hours, the GOA approved the credentials for Anthony 
Earl Wayne as future U.S. ambassador in Argentina. 
 
"This adds to a list of goodwill signs that the 
Kirchner and Bush administrations exchanged during the 
past weeks with the purpose to heal the bruises left 
by the Summit of the Americas. 
 
"Beyond the formality of the official communiqu, MFA 
officials clearly expressed their satisfaction with 
which the GOA received the appointment of Lino 
Gutierrez' successor. 
 
"The present Assistant Under Secretary for Economic 
and Business Issues, 'Tony' Wayne... is a career 
diplomat, with expertise on relations with Europe and 
the fight against terrorism, with renowned prestige 
and academic background. 
 
"'He's a man of substantial weight in the State 
Department, with experience in trade negotiations. His 
appointment is very important,' said a close 
collaborator of Foreign Minister Taiana. 
 
"According to the GOA, Wayne's designation clearly 
shows that one of the priorities in the bilateral 
relationship will be the strengthening of commercial 
ties with Argentina. 
 
".... Argentine Ambassador Bordon pointed out last 
night that Wayne 'knows the situation of Argentina 
very well' and was one of the officials who discussed 
the debt renegotiation, therefore we expect 'a 
constructive relationship'...." 
 
- "The GOA Views the Appointment as a Step Forward" 
 
Center-right, daily-of-record "La Nacion" says (02/17) 
"For the Kirchner administration, the appointment of 
Earl Anthony Wayne as new U.S. ambassador to Argentina 
is a step forward in the improvement of bilateral 
relations, which kicked off in January with the 
resumption of a fluid dialogue between officials of 
both countries... seriously damaged by the differences 
of the two governments at the Summit, when Kirchner 
and Bush disagreed on the FTAA. 
 
".... The turning point in the process of ironing out 
differences was A/S Shannon's visit to Argentina in 
January. 
 
".... 'With Wayne's designation, Washington wanted to 
send a signal aimed at strengthening the bilateral 
relationship with Argentina, which is very strong in 
the economic field,' said an official of Minister 
Taiana's entourage...." 
 
- "Argentina: Quick Approval of New U.S. Amnassador" 
 
Natasha Niebieskikwiat, center-left, leading "Clarin" 
diplomatic columnist, writes (02/17) ".... Argentina's 
quick approval clearly indicates it's pleased with the 
designation of Wayne who - due to his background as 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Business and Economic 
Issues since 2000 - is expected to steer the bilateral 
relationship in the direction of economy and trade 
issues, according to diplomatic sources. 
 
"However, the speed with which Argentina approved 
Wayne's designation is only part of a long and complex 
 
process overshadowed by speculation and tens of 
versions, which reflected the huge political lobby 
behind the appointment of an ambassador. 
 
".... In Buenos Aires they know that Wayne is A/S 
Shannon's man who, unlike his aggressive predecessors 
Reich and Noriega - is seeking dialogue instead, not 
cornering (the country.) 
 
"'(Wayne) Is convenient for us,' said an Argentine 
official curtly. He's a career diplomat, deeply 
involved in economic and trade issues that interest 
the Kirchner administration. 
 
"....  The DCM for the Embassy in Argentina will be 
Michael Matera, a diplomat who already worked in 
Buenos Aires and is now chief of cabinet of Robert 
Zoellick, deputy of the powerful Condolezza Rice." 
 
- "A Wayne Who's not John, New U.S. Ambassador" 
 
Fernando Cibeira, leftist "Pagina 12" diplomatic 
columnist, writes (02/17) ".... Wayne will arrive in 
Argentina with the mission to normalize the link 
between Washington and Buenos Aires, damaged after the 
Mar del Plata Summit. The MFA believes the designation 
is positive, because in their opinion Wayne is 
'serious' and 'a good interlocutor.' Nevertheless, in 
diplomatic circles, some viewed this appointment as a 
step back in the White House's perception of 
Argentina, saying the appointed official -- who 
doesn't speak Spanish - allegedly lacks connections 
with President Bush's close circle, as present 
Ambassador Lino Gutierrez does. 'It's not true. He 
might not be a friend of the President, but he's 
important within the Bush administration,' according 
to the MFA. 
 
- "Tough Crossfire Between UN, EU and the U.S. Over 
Guantanamo" 
 
Business-financial, conservative "Ambito Financiero" 
says (02/17) "Following the impact sparked by the new 
photos of torture in Iraqi prisons, the EU Parliament 
and five UN rapporteurs demanded in a report that the 
U.S. shut down the Guantanamo prison 'immediately,' a 
request which the Bush administration toughly 
rejected, arguing that the prisoners are terrorists. 
 
"While the document believes all the detainees must be 
taken to independent trial and that keeping them in 
the present status would be equal to 'arbitrary 
detention,' the U.S. said the experts' viewpoint 
'doesn't reflect a direct and personal knowledge' of 
what's going on in the detention center, because they 
never visited it. 
 
".... However, the five UN rapporteurs declined the 
U.S. invitation (to visit the prison in 2004) when in 
October last year they received a letter from the Bush 
administration inviting the experts but 'denying them 
the possibility of interviewing or holding private 
meetings' with the detainees. 
 
".... This is why the report is based 'on USG 
information, interviews with former prisoners who are 
now living or detained in Spain, France or Great 
Britain, and on answers from lawyers' of those who are 
still in Guantanamo...." 
 
- "'What the U.S. Posed Was Unacceptable'" 
 
Leftist "Pagina 12" carries an interview with 
Argentine rapporteur at the UN, Leandro Despouy, who 
said (02/17) "'The fact that the UN report had such a 
tremendous repercussion in less than 24 hours 
indicates that it is veracious and compelling.' 
 
".... "In June 2004, when the UN asked five experts to 
prepare the report, the U.S. invited only three people 
to visit Guantanamo. Given that the conditions were 
unacceptable, we rejected the invitation. It would 
have been a very ominous precedent for an expert to 
visit the installations and not be able to see the 
detainees...." 
 
- "Haiti: The Best Result Possible" 
 
 
Luis Bruschtein, leftist "Pagina 12" international 
columnist, opines (02/17) ".... Preval's victory in 
the elections by a broad margin was the best result to 
start fixing Haiti's imbroglio. Amid chaos and after a 
serious defeat, the popular sectors managed to 
generate a clear government option in the eyes of the 
people and, instead, Washington's candidates only 
obtained 10% of the ballots. This result makes it more 
difficult for any attempt of manipulation, coup or 
destabilizing threat to take place. The MINUSTAH 
forces managed to skip the embarrassment they could 
have faced and must respond to the president elect. 
 
"The future is still more difficult because the 
economy is broke and the social situation is 
calamitous. The Latin American governments that took 
part in the MINUSTAH in solidarity should now show the 
same solidarity in rebuilding the country whose status 
is an insult to human dignity." 
 
¶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