VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2274/01 2791944
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061944Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6136
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002274 
 
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: NORTH KOREA AND THE US; MIAMI HERALD EDITOR; 
LATINO-COALITION SEMINAR IN THE US; IAPA REPORT ON ARGENTINE PRESS 
FREEDOM; LULA; US-URUGUAYAN TALKS; ARGENTINE CREDITORS IN THE US; 
SECRET CIA PRISONS; 10/04/06;BUENOS AIRES 
 
SIPDIS 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's key international stories include North Korea's announcement 
that it will test its nuclear technology for military purposes and 
the USG's reaction to this announcement; the resignation of The 
Miami Herald editor due to Cuban Americans' pressure; a 
Latino-Coalition seminar, which was called 'Venezuela and Argentina 
- the new problematic axis in the hemisphere;' a tough IAPA report 
on Argentine press freedom; the implications of the outcome of 
Brazilian elections; the US-Uruguayan trade talks and the visit of 
DUSTR Everett Eissenstat to Uruguay; Argentine creditors' judicial 
procedures in the US; and the allegedly secret CIA prisons 
overseas. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "The White House, far from 2003 war atmosphere" 
 
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for 
daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (10/04) "In January 2002, 
North Korea was included in the infamous 'axis of evil' along with 
Iran and Iraq, which was defined as such by US President Bush in his 
first State-of-the-Union address following the September 11 
attacks. 
 
"Four and a half years later, the scenario has changed for worse. 
North Korea and Iran continue challenging the international 
community and the US in particular, and their war nuclear 
aspirations are taken for granted or at last suspected. 
 
"... While Iraq and Iran hit newspapers' headlines during recent 
years, the Pyongyang regime has gradually become the most serious 
threat for security in East Asia and perhaps the US. 
 
"Isolated and impoverished, the risk posed by North Korea would 
reach its climax if it is confirmed as a nuclear power. Why? On the 
one hand, because it has already carried out tests of mid- and 
long-range missiles that could even reach the coasts of Alaska. On 
the other hand, it could well encourage an arms race in the region, 
with China, Japan and South Korea getting ready for scenarios of 
confrontation, eventual pre-emptive attacks and nuclear 
proliferation. 
 
"Nonetheless, the Republican administration now bets on multilateral 
dialogue, far from the war atmosphere following the September 11 
attacks. When Bush coined the 'axis of evil' phrase, Bush had a 
support of over 80% among Americans. Now, he has obtained nearly 37 
percent for months. 
 
"Such a popularity rating can only be compared with that obtained by 
Richard Nixon before having to resign... 
 
"And, also, now, upcoming legislative elections could serve to label 
him 'a lame duck.' Even Rumsfeld, one of the hawks of this 
administration, said yesterday that 'talks among the six nations is 
the only proper method to deal with North Korea,' with the US 
Department of State, not the US Pentagon, taking the lead on behalf 
of Washington. 
 
"Obviously enough, North Korea and Iraq are very different 
realities... However, the Communist regime has just announced to the 
world that it will test its nuclear technology for military 
purposes. 
 
"The White House's response is quite different in both cases. It 
invaded Iraq in 2003, but with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il, 
it seeks to either reach a multilateral deal involving Japan, South 
Korea, China and Russia, or have the UN Security Council approve 
sanctions against it. 
 
"However, challenges are big - the regime believes that Bush will do 
his best to overthrow it, and the US suspects that North Korea will 
violate the deal just like it did 12 years ago." 
 
- "Miami Herald editor resigns due to pressure of the Cuban 
community" 
 
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
writes (10/04) "The crisis unleashed at The New Herald, the Miami 
Herald's Spanish version, by the finding that some of its 
journalists had collected money for contributions made for 
anti-Castro regime Radio and TV Marti ended up with the resignation 
of the editor of the two newspapers, Jesus Diaz. 
 
"Two reporters and one contributor of The New Herald... were fired 
 
 
 
last September after it was known that they had collected money from 
Radio and TV Marti... 
 
"... Pressured by the Cuban-American community, which decided to 
boycott the two papers by causing the cancellation of thousands of 
subscriptions, Diaz not only had to resign but The New Herald again 
hired the three journalists that had been fired by Diaz. 
 
"The whole incident is a new sign of the Cuban Americans' power in 
Miami. Radio and TV Marti are USG-funded media that air programs for 
Cuba. 
 
"As a matter of fact, the confirmation of the nomination of the 
future US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, had to go 
through several postponements due to the fact that when Wayne used 
to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs at the US 
Department of State, he opposed a fund increase for Radio and TV 
Marti. Echoing the Cuban American community in Miami, Senator Mel 
Martinez was compelled to object to (Wayne's) nomination, which was 
finally confirmed because the US Department of State had to unblock 
it." 
 
- "Strong criticism of the (Argentine) President in the US" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (10/04) "The USG official in 
charge of Latin America until 2005, Roger Noriega, said President 
Kirchner is 'ungrateful' for having repudiated the Bush 
administration when he no longer needed its help. 
 
"During a conference organized by Latino Coalition..., Noriega said 
'I would not like to use that word but I believe that President 
Kirchner has good ties (with someone) only when that someone serves 
him well.' 
 
"Noriega said that 'one should not speak in private morning meetings 
as a friend and afterwards publicly speak against that friend in the 
afternoon. But we reached this point.' 'I believe Kirchner has 
undermined the good willingness and confidence between the two of 
us. This has been his down decision. However, the US has attempted 
to maintain a positive relationship with him, although, frankly 
speaking, it is hard for us to do it.' 
 
"The seminar was called 'Venezuela and Argentina - the new 
problematic axis in the hemisphere.'" 
 
- "Harsh IAPA report on Argentine press freedom" 
 
Leading "Clarin" reports (10/04) "In its most critic report on 
President Nestor Kirchner since he took over in 2003, the Inter 
American Press Association (IAPA) denounced yesterday that Argentina 
'conditions' press freedom, and journalists are threatened in the 
country, which has not 'completely dismissed authoritarianism.' 
 
"The report was approved in Mexico by the 62nd IAPA General 
Assembly, led by the editor of The Washington Post, Diane Daniels, 
following the death threats suffered by journalists Joaquin Morales 
Sola, from 'La Nacion,' and Jorge Fontevecchia, from 'Perfil.' 
 
"The IAPA said 'more than three years after taking over, President 
Nestor Kirchner has demonstrated that he has not been able yet to 
adapt himself to the functioning of independent media. Differing 
views and versions that differ from the official version usually end 
up in confrontations.'" 
 
- "A choice between the FTAA and Mercosur" 
 
Business-financial "El Cronista" reports (10/04) "Brazilian Minister 
of Institutional Relations and spokesperson of the Lula 
administration, Tarso Genro, said yesterday that 'Argentina's 
concern about the possible triumph in runoff elections of opposing 
candidate Geraldo Alckmin is right' because, in his opinion, the 
Social-Democrat candidate represents the interests of the FTAA, not 
those of Mercosur. 
 
"Genro added that Alckmin's view 'is subject to interests that are 
far from those of Mercosur.' 
 
"After a press conference at the Planalto Palace, Genro spoke about 
Lula's relationship with President Nestor Kirchner. 'It is important 
that Argentines support Lula, because Lula is Mercosur and, 
therefore, he has an important relationship with President Kirchner 
and with the Argentine people.'" 
 
- "US envoy arrives in Uruguay and already holds trade talks" 
 
 
 
Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (10/04) "Yesterday, 
Uruguay and the US formally kicked off negotiations for a new trade 
deal, far from an FTA and close to a preferential tariff system, as 
President Tabare Vazquez said last week. 
 
"In concrete, the structure on which the two countries will hold 
discussions will be unusual in Mercosur and will be based on a Trade 
Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). 
 
"This implies that there will only be a broadening of an ongoing 
deal for investment protection, which would now authorize the entry 
of some products to both markets without having to pay tariffs. What 
this new deal will not include is some progress on two key sectors 
for Mercosur - IPR and governmental purchases, and a deal to import 
cars, capital goods and electronic articles of any kind without 
having to pay tariffs. Such a deal would have implied Uruguay's 
abandonment of Mercosur. Vazquez avoided this decision by choosing a 
minor deal, which would also be supported by Argentina and Brazil in 
the upcoming Brasilia Mercosur summit in December. 
 
"The start of negotiations between the US and Uruguay was announced 
by Uruguayan Presidential Secretary Gonzalo Fernandez after his 
first meeting with DUSTR Everett Eissenstat... 
 
"Meanwhile, Eissenstat underscored the importance of recent 
meetings, which make up 'a continuous process,' and he called them 
'very important' for the US, given the 'economic opportunities open 
for the two parties.' 'I am confident that we can conclude 
negotiations to reach a Trade Investment Framework Agreement.'" 
 
- "New statement by bondholders in the US" 
 
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for 
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (10/04) "According to NML 
capital and EM Limited, the two main vulture funds that seek to 
collect (Argentine) sovereign bonds still in default since 2001, the 
Argentine Central Bank is an organ lacking independence, which 
absolutely obeys the Argentine Government. This is why its reserves 
belong to the government, and therefore, can be embargoed. 
 
"The purpose of the two funds is collecting part of the debts owed 
to them with 105 million dollars the Argentine Central Bank has in 
the New York Federal Reserve, and they also seek to hinder Argentine 
Government's international financial operations until the government 
finds compelled to submit a more profitable debt swap offer than 
that of 2005. 
 
"... However, the Argentine Government insists that it will neither 
negotiate with creditors nor make a second restructuring offer." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "The CIA secret prisons" 
 
An editorial in daily-of-record "La Nacion"reads (10/04) "As 
expected, US President George W. Bush's confirmation about the CIA 
secret prisons outside of the US has sparked strong controversy in 
 
SIPDIS 
the EU countries, which claim for the location of those centers of 
detention of alleged terrorists. 
 
"... The European Council has warned that the US President's 
acknowledgement is in line with the research made by The Washington 
Post about CIA secret prisons in European and Asian countries... 
Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that those 
secret prisons 'are not compatible with the Rule of Law,' and that 
 
SIPDIS 
the 'fight on terrorism can only be carried out based on the 
principles of the rule of law and democracy.' 
 
"Having resorted to secret prisons overseas to avoid investigating 
suspects according to US institutions and legal systems seems to 
have damaged the noteworthy US democratic tradition. 
 
"War on terrorism should be implacable but it cannot justify 
procedures that violate fundamental human rights. This must be so 
even when terrorists themselves will never honor those same 
rights." 
 
- "The unexpected Brazilian vote" 
 
Leading "Clarin" editorializes (10/04) "The outcome of Brazilian 
elections has revealed the malaise of some part of voters due to a 
corruption scandal and Lula's attitude about it. However, it is also 
related to the ways of doing politics and the performance of the 
economy. 
 
 
 
"The last-minute reversal of the election trend, which promised a 
sure victory of Lula, can basically be explained by two elements. 
The main one, the revelation, shortly before elections, of an 
official maneuver to impair opposed leader Jose Serra. The other 
element was Lula's decision not to attend a TV debate with his 
adversary Geraldo Alckmin, which was taken as a gesture of 
arrogance... 
 
"Also, the outcome of elections may be explained by Brazil's 
economic evolution... During the four years of his government, the 
growth of the Brazilian economy has been modest in average and it 
has allowed for a revaluation of the real currency that impaired 
industries... 
 
"Uncertainty hovers over runoff elections because, on the one hand, 
Lula will perhaps obtain the votes from the left wing that he did 
not get in the first round, but he will probably be impaired by the 
investigation about the folders that were purchased to damage the 
opposition." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MATERA