VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1454/01 1792013
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 282013Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5063
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001454 
 
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: ALLEGED US BANKING ESPIONAGE; MIDDLE EAST; COLOMBIAN 
ELECTIONS; KIRCHNER-MORALES SUMMIT; WTO DOHA ROUND; ALLIANCE BETWEEN 
BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA; EXPORT OF BOLIVIAN COCA TO ARGENTINA 06/28/06; 
BUENOS AIRES 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's key international stories include allegations of USG banking 
espionage; the situation in the Middle East; the implications of 
Colombian President Uribe's re-election; the summit to be held 
between Argentine President Nestor Kirchner and Bolivian President 
Evo Morales; the run up to the WTO Doha Round; the alliance between 
Brazil and Argentina; and the export of Bolivian coca to Argentina. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES 
 
- "Bush lashes out at The New York Times for having revealed the 
banking espionage plan" 
 
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
comments (06/28) "Aware that an attack is always the best defense, 
US President George W. Bush harshly criticized The New York Times 
newspaper for having revealed the White House's secret plan to spy 
on international financial transactions without a judicial order. 
 
"Furthermore, during a hearing at the US Senate, the White House 
fervently defended the annexes Bush added to all legislation..., 
whereby Bush has the right to review, interpret or ignore 
legislation based on national security reasons, which some senators 
consider abhorring. 
 
"In fact, what is being debated is whether Bush is doing it in the 
name of security, or as an abuse of power." 
 
- "The fire" 
 
Marcelo Cantelmi, international editor of leading "Clarin," writes 
(06/28) "Reality confirms the warning made by brilliant historian 
Eric Hobsbawn some years ago, that the Middle East is currently the 
most serious humanitarian conflict. 
 
"This confrontation has fed global hatred in the Muslim world which 
has deepened by the allied quest in Iraq. It too is a disastrous 
consequence of the Israeli/  Palestinian territory dispute. 
 
"The latest incident, which was triggered by the kidnapping of an 
Israeli soldier, occurred precisely when Hamas agreed to implicitly 
acknowledge the existence of a Jewish State..." 
 
- "The Uribe model" 
 
Business-financial "El Cronista" carries an opinion piece by Nicolas 
Echavarria, former Colombian Ambassador to the EU and head of 
Uribe's election campaign, who writes (06/28) "A wave of leftist 
movements have allegedly prevailed in Latin America. However, Alvaro 
Uribe's reelection in Colombia may have not only started the 
reversal of this trend, but perhaps it has also revealed to both the 
conservative and liberal political parties within the hemisphere a 
way to move forward. This will soon be tested on July 2nd  with the 
Mexican presidential elections. 
 
"... While Uribe is an ally of the US, he has managed to obtain the 
support of Fidel Castro, who seems to have abandoned his support for 
armed struggles in Latin America and now prefers instead, the road 
to victory through elections. 
 
"Uribe's second presidency creates hope... while giving impetus to 
the harassed pro-free market democratic forces in Latin America." 
 
- "Kirchner's  summit with Evo and his support for Lula are gestures 
that have the same purpose" 
 
Eduardo van der Kooy, political columnist of leading "Clarin," 
comments (06/28) "Unstable conditions in the region and the world's 
concerns, will probably turn the summit between Argentine President 
Nestor Kirchner and Bolivian President Evo Morales into their most 
important meeting since Morales took power. 
 
"... The deal between Kirchner and Morales for the supply of gas 
removes the potential gas deficit problem between Argentina and 
Chile. 
 
"... Kirchner also supported Lula's re-election platform. The policy 
is based on Buenos Aires and Brazil remaining the focus of the 
bloc. 
 
"... When the prospect of a Caracas-La Paz-Buenos Aires axis fades 
away, the ties between the Argentine and Brazilian administrations 
will become clearer." 
 
 
 
- "Mercosur joins the WTO against farm subsidies" 
 
Alejandro Bercovich, economic and political columnist of 
business-financial "El Cronista," writes (06/28) "Without great 
expectations, Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana left for the 
Geneva WTO meeting, which WTO head Pascal Lamy has labeled as 
'crucial.' 
 
"According to Argentine Foreign Ministry sources, the only 
difference with previous WTO ministerial summits will be that 
Mercosur will have a unified position against US farm subsidies and 
European barriers on the entry of food. Other than that, no one 
expects a deal to deepen world trade liberalization before the end 
of the year. 
 
"The ministers of the 149 WTO member countries will seek to reach a 
consensus on farm and industrial tariffs as well as subsidies." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Alliance with Brazil" 
 
An editorial in conservative "La Prensa" reads (06/28) "In a clear 
gesture of support, the Argentine president supported Brazilian 
president's decision to run for re-election... 
 
"... The US and EU consider both Lula and Kirchner the natural 
leaders of the region vis-`-vis the uncertainty unleashed by leaders 
such as Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia. 
 
"At critical times for the Lula administration, high-ranking USG 
officials made public statements supporting the Brazilian president. 
According to the USG officials, the turbulence created by suspected 
bribes to legislators and the use of illegal funds to finance 
election campaigns has not had a real impact on the economy... 
 
"The positive US-Brazilian bilateral relationship will lead the 
Argentine government to follow the same road in search of a panorama 
of predictability and mutual confidence, which will increase 
potential investors' confidence in the region." 
 
- "Export of Bolivian coca" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" editorializes (06/28) "During a 
demonstration of coca growers, Bolivian President Evo Morales said 
that in his next meeting with President Nestor Kirchner, he will ask 
Kirchner to legalize the export of Bolivian coca leaves to 
Argentina... 
 
"... If the final destination of coca leaves is not properly 
controlled, Argentina could be used in drug-trafficking. 
 
"If Argentina decides to accept Evo Morales' offering..., it should 
ensure the required controls and registration so it can  prevent 
coca leaves from having an illegal purpose." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website 
at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
GUTIERREZ