VZCZCXYZ0018
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1050/01 1292008
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 092008Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4460
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001050 
 
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 IRAN MERCOSUR LATIN AMERICAN 
CHAIR AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL 05/09/06;BUENOS AIRES 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's local papers lead with Iran attempting to 
approach the US; China warning about triggering a war 
like that of Iraq; the implications of Bolivia's 
nationalization of the energy sector; the crisis of 
Mercosur; and the Latin American chair at the UN 
Security Council. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES 
 
- "Iran attempts an approach to the US" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (05/09) "Iranian 
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote a letter to his US 
counterpart, George W. Bush, in which he proposed 'new 
ways' to solve the mounting tension between the two 
countries. This is an unprecedented gesture in almost 
30 years that coincides with the strong international 
pressure for Tehran to stop its nuclear activities. 
 
"The letter... represents an amazing change in the 
Islamic regime's strategy after months of harsh spats 
between Ahmadinejad and Washington or its allies. 
Iranian government officials even spoke of a 'new 
diplomatic opening' between the two countries. 
 
"However, the White House downplayed the letter and 
interpreted Ahmadinejad's gesture as a strategy 
intended to influence negotiations at the UN Security 
Council now that Washington is promoting a tough 
resolution against Tehran, which will allow for the 
implementation of economic sanctions and even the use 
of force." 
 
- "China warns of the danger of a war like that in 
Iraq" 
 
Alberto Armendariz, New York-based correspondent for 
daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (05/09) "Amid 
tense meetings at the UN Security Council, China 
warned yesterday that a new resolution condemning Iran 
could lead to a war, like that in Iraq, and urged 
European countries to refrain from threatening Tehran 
with sanctions or a military action if it does not 
suspend its nuclear program. 
 
"... Beijing's position is supported by Russia, which 
believes that the level of pressure is unacceptable 
and it could lead not only to mounting tension but 
also to a crisis that could affect oil international 
prices." 
 
- "Bolivian history on repeat" 
 
James Scott, contributor to the Buenos Aires Herald, 
writes (05/09) "If Bolivia's decision to nationalize 
the energy sector last week... sounds familiar, it is 
because it is not the first time the country has done 
it. 
 
"Bolivia seized Standard Oil's assets in 1937... and 
three decades later Bolivia did the same with Gulf 
Oil. In both cases, the effects proved disappointing 
at best and eventually the market reopened to private 
sector investment. 
 
"... History, as they say, is doomed to repeat itself. 
And experts point out that Bolivia appears to be the 
next stage where this potential economic Waterloo will 
play out. 
 
"While nationalizing the energy sector may produce a 
short term financial shot in the arm for the Andean 
nation of about nine million, the move is likely to 
throw the brakes on most future investments." 
 
- "Left wing vs. left wing, a confrontation dividing 
the region" 
 
Andres Oppenheimer, columnist of daily-of-record "La 
Nacion," writes (05/09) "Contrarily to the well-spread 
belief that there is a leftist tsunami in Latin 
America against Washington and free market, what we 
witness in the region is a very different kind of 
confrontation - the left wing vs. the left wing. 
 
"... The most ironic thing of Chavez's diatribes 
against Peru, Colombia and other countries of the 
region for having signed FTAs with the 'empire' is 
that Venezuela itself is increasing its trade with the 
US to unprecedented numbers." 
 
- "The embarrassment diplomacy" 
 
Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by Juan 
Gabriel Tokatlian, professor of international 
relations at Universidad de San Andres, who writes 
(05/09) "The ghost of a new Latin American political 
embarrassment is looming at the UN corridors. 
 
"The dispute between Guatemala and Venezuela for a 
rotary chair at the UN Security Council in 2007 could 
spark one of the most lamentable experiences in Latin 
American diplomatic history at the UN. 
 
"... In 1979, Colombia's candidacy was boosted by the 
US in order to hinder Cuba's obtaining a chair at the 
UN Security Council. Colombia, a strong ally of 
Washington during the Turbay Ayala administration, 
agreed to obstruct Cuba's aspirations. 
 
"... Now that President Hugo Chavez is attempting to 
project his 'Bolivarian' leadership in Latin America 
and use the leverage given to him by oil prices in 
order to increase his influence in world politics, 
obtaining chair at the UN Security Council could 
provide Venezuela with a visible place to criticize 
and denounce the US. 
 
"Now Washington, which has recreated a sort of renewed 
ideological Cold War in its ties with Caracas, is 
against Venezuela's aspiration to get a chair at the 
UN Security Council and the Bush administration itself 
has deployed an active diplomacy in this regard. 
 
"In this framework, the (so-called) Group of Latin 
American and Caribbean Countries seems paralyzed. In a 
sort of mounting tension story, the region is again 
letting the US dictate its regional representation 
policy at the UN Security Council. 
 
"Regardless of the US purposes and interests in this 
issue, it is fundamental to avoid the lamentable 
episode of 1979." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Mercosur is at a crossroads" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" editorializes (05/09) "The 
conflict between Argentina and Uruguay due to the 
establishment of two paper mills in Fray Bentos has 
revealed the depth of the crisis Mercosur is going 
through. Weakened by the gradual imposition of trade 
barriers among its members instead their removal, 
Mercosur has entered a phase of uncertainty. 
 
"... The fact that Uruguay has started to hold 
discussions with the US to reach an FTA is another 
conclusive sign of the difficulties Mercosur is going 
through. Uruguay currently exports more products to 
the US than to Argentina and Brazil, and it is 
attempting to adopt a new model of development model 
aimed at achieving sustainable growth and honor its 
public debt commitments. 
 
"... A hypothetical departure of Uruguay from Mercosur 
would not damage the bloc economically but from a 
political point of view." 
 
- "Shock in the Southern Cone" 
 
An editorial in conservative "La Prensa" reads (05/09) 
"The South American panorama is disturbing due to a 
number of conflicts that have added themselves in the 
region, which weaken its possibilities of development. 
The Bolivian president's announced nationalization of 
hydrocarbons was the climax of a conflictive regional 
horizon... 
 
"The strong influence of the Venezuelan government in 
regional issues has unleashed a serious crisis in 
Mercosur and the Andean Community (of Nations)... 
 
 
"Brazil has even stated its concern about an eventual 
'cold war' promoted by Caracas in South America." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires GUTIERREZ