VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2169/01 2651951
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221951Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5999
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002169 
 
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: PRESIDENT KIRCHNER'S TRIP TO NEW YORK AND MEETING WITH 
AMBASSADOR WAYNE AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON; OUTCOME OF MEXICAN 
ELECTIONS; 09/22/06 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's major papers "Clarin" and "La Nacion" reported on President 
Nestor Kirchner's trip to New York and his meeting with US 
Ambassador to Argentina, Tony Wayne, and US Assistant Secretary for 
Western Hemispheric Affairs Thomas Shannon. Daily-of-record "La 
Nacion" carries an editorial on the outcome of Mexican election 
highlighting Venezuela's failed interference in the procedure. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "Kirchner - price monitoring will continue one more year" 
 
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
comments (09/22) "In a room that was crowded with businessmen, 
bankers, Wall Street agents, and US officials, President Nestor 
Kirchner announced last night that he expected to put an end to 
'price monitoring by late 2007 or early 2008 at the latest.' 
 
"... Kirchner explained that, in fact, there are no price controls 
in Argentina but price monitoring..., which is reported to be one of 
the elements that has most discouraged foreign investment. ... 
Kirchner's announcement was obviously part of his initiative to 
attract new investors. 
 
"Kirchner insisted that 'Argentina's doors are open to foreign 
investment,' 'there is not and there will not be controls on capital 
flow but on speculative capital flow.' Furthermore, Kirchner spoke 
about the need for clear and predictable rules. 
 
"Last night's dinner was organized by the Council of the Americas 
and particularly by its head, Susan Segal, and was preceded by a 
small meeting among the members of that organization and Kirchner. 
The newly elected US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, 
attended the meeting. 
 
"Everyone agreed that the meeting was very nice and that, while 
Wayne will obviously defend the interests of US corporations in 
Argentina, he will also work to solve the problems that could come 
up in the (bilateral) relationship. 
 
"In fact, during his speech Kirchner urged the 'US to support the 
region.' He spoke about the need for that support in a tone that he 
had never used before. 
 
"He repeatedly invited attendees to invest in the country because 
they will make money. However, he acknowledged that there is still a 
problem of credibility. 
 
"... Kirchner added that if Argentina grows at a three-percent 
annual rate during the upcoming years, 'we will have a major country 
that will contribute to the economy of the region,' and that 
businessmen will profit from their investments in the country. 
 
"Generally speaking, the dinner was cordial. Among invitees, there 
was US assistant Secretary for Western Hemispheric Affairs Tom 
Shannon; the President and VP, Occidental Petroleum, John Morgan and 
David Powell; Alberto Fernandez; and Susan Segal - President 
Kirchner stated praise and deep gratitude for her support for the 
country." 
 
- "First outcomes of two challenging trips" 
 
Marcelo Bonelli, economic columnist of leading "Clarin," writes 
(09/22) "(Argentine) President Nestor Kirchner had a cautious 
welcome in the US while Economy Minister Felisa Miceli promoted the 
replacement of Federico Molina, the current Argentine financial 
representative in the US after a retreat in Singapore. 
 
"... President Nestor Kirchner's visit to Manhattan left something 
clear - the diminished political importance of Argentine Ambassador 
Octavio Bordon and the leading role played by Consul Hector 
Timerman. Bordon was not even involved in arranging a crucial 
meeting - that of Assistant Secretary Tom Shannon with Ministers 
Alberto Fernandez and Julio De Vido, which was arranged by Susan 
Segal, head of the Council of the Americas... 
 
"Shannon attempted to rebuild deteriorated diplomatic ties between 
Washington and Buenos Aires. First of all, he clarified that the US 
Department of State does not support Roberto Lavagna's candidacy and 
he also denied that the new US Ambassador to Argentina is supposed 
to strengthen the opposition against Kirchner. Additionally, he 
praised the President's pursuit of investment, although he also 
expressed concern about Argentina's closeness to Hugo Chavez... 
 
"Finally, Shannon made a concrete request - Washington wants 
 
 
Kirchner to moderate the instability created by both Chavez and 
Morales. In other words, Washington wants Argentina to preserve its 
leading role by following Brazil's example and setting a limit on 
Chavez." 
 
- "Kirchner promises high profitability" 
 
Martin Rodriguez Yebra, on special assignment in New York for 
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (09/22) "... During a dinner 
that was organized by the Council of the Americas, President Nestor 
Kirchner explained the reasons why his economic program is reliable, 
and he emphatically denied the risk of an energy crisis in the 
country. 
 
"In tune with his message at the New York Stock Exchange, he spoke 
of 'predictable and clear rules, (judicial) security for investors 
and a sound fiscal policy,' all of which will guarantee the 
country's sustained growth. 
 
"... At the last minute, the future US Ambassador (to Argentina), 
Earl Anthony Wayne; the US Ambassador to the OAS, John Maisto; and 
George W. Bush's man for Latin American Affairs, Tom Shannon, joined 
the Argentine President's table. 
 
"Now that the bilateral relationship is at a cool point, this was 
Kirchner's only contact with members of the USG during his one-week 
trip to New York, which was aimed at attracting investment." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Mexico's lesson" 
 
An editorial in daily-of-record "La Nacion" reads (09/22) "There is 
a false assumption that everything can be manipulated through media 
images and words... an idea used by leftist political leaders who 
want to take hold of Latin America as a scenario of weird utopias. 
 
"Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is one of the politicians that has most 
trusted in media methodology... He has shocked Mexico for weeks. 
 
"... Two of the most respected Mexican institutions have said that 
Felipe Calderon won elections. As a result of this, fissures have 
started to appear in Lopez Obrador's political front... 
 
"Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, founder of Partido de la Revolucion 
Democratica (PRD), said 'I am deeply concerned about Andres Lopez 
Obrador's intolerance'... 
 
"Two governors from the PRD have already acknowledged Calderon's 
victory... 
 
"The time has come for Mexico to start getting ready for a new 
period of peace, freedom and prosperity and to take advantage of the 
coincidence that for the second time in the year (first, it was in 
Peru), the Venezuelan regime's interference in other countries of 
the hemisphere has ended up in a conclusive failure." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MATERA