VZCZCXYZ0013
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2513/01 3121958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081958Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6422
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002513 
 
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: AMBASSADOR WAYNE TO ARGENTINA; US LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS; 
NICARAGUAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS; US-MEXICAN BORDER FENCE; 
11/07/06 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
All major papers report on the arrival of US Ambassador to 
Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, and his presentation of credentials 
to Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana. Other international 
stories include today's US legislative elections; the outcome of 
Nicaraguan presidential elections; and the US-Mexican border fence. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "Gestures from the new US Ambassador" 
 
Oliver Galak, political columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacion," 
writes (11/07) "With the typical signs of good will of every 
inauguration, the 28th US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony 
Wayne, took office yesterday in a meeting with FM Jorge Taiana. 
 
"At the end of the meeting, Wayne labeled his conversation with 
Taiana as 'good,' and he pointed out that 'the US greatly values its 
ties with Argentina'... 
 
"... One of Ambassador Wayne's priorities in Buenos Aires will be 
taking care of US investment - nearly 25 percent of foreign 
investment in the country... 
 
"But the common agenda also includes other issues, like the struggle 
against terrorism, human rights policy, the situation in Haiti, and 
the relationship with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. 
 
"... In Argentine diplomatic circles, Wayne's arrival was taken as 
good news... 
 
"A long-time Argentine diplomat said: '(Wayne) is a heavyweight. He 
has direct channels of communication with (Secretary of State) 
Condoleezza Rice. If we have a good cause and we convince him, he is 
the adequate channel.' 
 
"A foreign ambassador who met Wayne while he served in the US was 
even more eloquent: 'Wayne has more influence in Washington than, 
for instance, Lino Gutierrez. Whatever he says will be respected 
there.'" 
 
- "New US Ambassador arrives with promises to improve the 
(bilateral) relationship" 
 
Leading "Clarin" reports (11/07) "Committed to increasing bilateral 
cooperation, the new US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, 
presented his credentials to FM Jorge Taiana. 
 
"... Wayne will face the challenge of improving ties between 
Kirchner and his US counterpart, George W. Bush, who is resentful 
after the Mar del Plata Summit of the Americas, in which the US was 
not able to win support for the FTAA. 
 
"... The US diplomat said yesterday that he will put 'all his effort 
into strengthening ties' between the two countries." 
 
- "Wayne takes office as US Ambassador" 
 
Business-financial, center-right "Infobae" (11/07) "After a meeting 
with FM Taiana, the new US Ambassador to Argentina Earl Anthony 
Wayne said that 'the US greatly values its bilateral relationship 
with Argentina.' 
 
"Wayne's inauguration raises big expectations due to the particular 
situation in the region and the bilateral issues pending between the 
two countries, such as increasing US investment in the country. 
 
"... However, the US diplomat acknowledged that the US and Argentine 
governments have 'points of disagreement' on some issues, which he 
considered 'normal between friends and neighbors.' He added 'the 
question is how to better channel those points of disagreement and 
how to face them to mutual benefit.'" 
 
- "Taiana receives the new US Ambassador" 
 
Business-financial "El Cronista" reports (11/07) "The new US 
Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, asserted that the (US) 
ties with the country are 'very positive and productive,' and that 
the White House 'highly values' its relationship with Argentina. 
 
"When presenting credentials to FM Jorge Taiana, Wayne underscored: 
'We have a broad agenda of issues, and I will certainly do 
everything I can to increase the good communication and cooperation 
that we currently enjoy.' 
 
 
"... Argentina is concerned about what will happen with the GSP at 
the end of the year." 
 
- "The new American friend" 
 
Left-of-center "Pagina 12" reports (11/07) "Even though the tone of 
the meeting was marked by protocol, after presenting credentials to 
FM Jorge Taiana, the new US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony 
Wayne, pointed out that they held 'a good conversation about the 
bilateral relationship,' and he even asserted that 'it is in the 
interest of the two countries to broaden our channels of 
communication and deepen the understanding between the two 
nations.' 
 
"Yesterday, the brand-new Ambassador announced that it will be 
important for him to meet 'with Argentines from all circles and 
listen to their points of view.'" 
 
- "US Ambassador presents credentials" 
 
Conservative "La Prensa" reports (11/07) "The new US Ambassador Earl 
Anthony Wayne took office yesterday after meeting with FM Jorge 
Taiana... 
 
"... In his swearing in ceremony last November 2, Wayne had 
emphasized that the US and Argentina have a 'strong commitment to 
democratic values, human rights and defense.' 
 
"He added that 'Argentina and the US have had good cooperation at 
the UN in seeking peace, non proliferation and fighting crime, 
terrorism and narco-trafficking.' 
 
"Wayne recalled that 'there are almost 400 US corporations operating 
in Argentina,' which 'make our economic ties substantial' and have 
been kept 'through good and bad times.'" 
 
- "US ambassador presents his credentials" 
 
Liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald" reports (11/07) "The 
new US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, yesterday 
presented his credentials to FM Jorge Taiana. According to Embassy 
sources, Wayne also had his first day of work at his new office in 
the neighborhood of Palermo. Wayne, whose last position was 
Assistant Secretary of State for Commercial Affairs and has previous 
experience in diplomacy, replaces Lino Gutierrez as the 
representative of George W. Bush in Buenos Aires." 
 
- "New US Ambassador" 
 
Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (11/07) "... 
Ambassador Wayne's nomination raises big expectations due to the 
special current situation of the region and the issues pending in 
the bilateral relations, such as the lack of interest of US 
corporations to invest in the country and the Bush administration's 
imminent decision to withdraw Argentina from the GSP, for which the 
country could lose exports to the US for up to 600 million 
dollars." 
 
- "Americans will vote today in a crucial election test for Bush" 
 
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
comments (11/07) "... According to latest opinion surveys, the Bush 
administration will suffer its first political defeat, Democrats 
will win the Lower House and the gubernatorial races, and there will 
be a tie in US Senate. The final outcome will be known today... 
 
"The electoral campaign made one thing quite clear. Voters will vote 
bearing one issue in minds - Iraq. And this alone is an achievement 
for the Democrats. 
 
"... Chuck Todd, a well-known political analyst in Washington, 
agrees with other analysts that Democrats managed to turn these 
lections into a referendum on Bush's policy on Iraq." 
 
- "From a rifle to pacifism and market economy" 
 
Pilar Conci, on special assignment in Managua for daily-of-record 
"La Nacion," writes (11/07) "He is perseverant, no one can deny 
this. His obsession was returning to power and, no matter how many 
defeats he endured on the way, he had made it this time. 
 
"... While now he says that he will respect private corporations, 
boost foreign investment and seek good ties with the US, his 
proximity to Hugo Chavez worries Washington, which does not trust in 
his conversion. 
 
 
"However, what has obviously changed is Ortega's banking account 
balance. Once a revolutionary, he has now become a wealthy 
businessman... " 
 
- "US cautious and concerned about the outcome of (Nicaraguan) 
elections" 
 
Leonardo Mindez, on special assignment in Washington for leading 
"Clarin," writes (11/07) "After having strongly bet against Daniel 
Ortega's candidacy, caution prevailed in Washington officials' 
comments on Nicaraguan elections. 
 
"The main US fear is that the Sandinist leader will turn into an 
anti-US leader in Central America, a region that has been very close 
to the White House in recent years. 
 
"... Many in Washington do not trust the old enemy of the Cold War. 
US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez had already warned before 
the elections that a victory by Ortega could scare away US 
investment amounting to 270 million dollars and could jeopardize the 
continuity of CAFTA. Republican legislators even asked that the US 
suspend its financial aid for Nicaragua if Ortega won elections." 
 
- "A light version" 
 
Paula Lugones, columnist of leading "Clarin," writes (11/07) "Will 
Daniel Ortega be a new member of the 'axis of evil,' the list of US 
enemies? It is hard to tell. The victory of the former commander 
worries Washington, but it could well be a gut-driven reaction to 
the word 'Sandinismo.' It is true that Hugo Chavez is smiling from 
Venezuela and that the White House is monitoring possible capital 
flight from Nicaragua in fear of some kind of expropriation wave 
similar to that of his first term in office. Ortega could well 
maintain his anti-imperialist stance but his ideological and 
personal transformation brings a new light, 'pragmatic' Sandinismo 
to power, which no longer plans to confront the US but sign FTAs 
with the US." 
 
- "Bush's campaign failed and left a bad precedent" 
 
Luis Bruchstein, columnist of left-of-center "Pagina 12," opines 
(11/07) "... Bush's staff campaigned against Ortega. The US 
Ambassador to Nicaragua called on the two right-wing political 
parties to ask them to unite, sent Mario Vargas Llosa to give 
lectures and North himself asked to vote for the right wing... His 
presence created the threat of another war. It has been the Bush 
administration's most shameless interference in the domestic issues 
of a Latin American country. 
 
"Regardless of what they say of Ortega, the Nicaraguans' democratic 
vote defeated them all." 
 
- "What stops the fence" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an op-ed story by columnist 
Jorge Rosales, who writes (11/07) "The controversy regarding the 
construction of a fence on the US-Mexican border aimed at stopping 
immigration is only one aspect of the profound ongoing debate on 
this issue... 
 
"... When the most recalcitrant US sectors praise the construction 
of a fence on the US-Mexican border..., they do not explain the 
economic benefits immigrants leave in the country year after year. 
 
"It is not by chance that this tough measure has been adopted at 
election time, when extreme positions are required to maintain the 
loyalty of the most conservative sector of voters now that President 
Bush's clout is lower as difficulties in Iraq mount. 
 
"The US ability to maintain its competitiveness largely depends on 
the number of workers it incorporates to its economy... 
 
"The debate about the fence in the US is then much broader than the 
xenophobia of some US sectors. It should also include the 
responsibilities of the leaders of our countries - who have not 
contributed to generating the political, economic and social 
conditions that could alleviate the poverty in which millions of 
Latin Americans are immersed..." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE