VZCZCXYZ0024
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0271/01 0431925
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121925Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7258
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000271 
 
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; AFTERMATH OF THE RECENT VISITS OF AG 
GONZALES, U/S BURNS AND A/S SHANNON; SPAT OVER ETON PARK, 
KIRCHNER-CHAVEZ; 02/12/07 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Most dailies report positively on the visit of U/S Burns and A/S 
Shannon, particularly for playing down the controversy over 
Ambassador Wayne's intercession on behalf of Eton Park over 
Transener, for stating the Bush administration's categorical support 
for Argentina's investigation of the AMIA case and for praising 
Argentina's nuclear cooperation. Post-visit comments on AG Gonzales 
reflect the GOA's position on the issue of torture. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "GOA Agrees to Leave Behind U.S. Controversy" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" (02/10) says "The GOA and the U.S. 
agreed to overcome differences over U.S. energy fund Eton Park, 
whose access to the Argentine energy market had been vetoed by the 
GOA. 
 
"Despite the friendly words of both parties, Planning Minister De 
Vido confirmed the GOA's opposition to the purchase... 
(Nevertheless) the tense atmosphere changed after yesterday's 
meetings. 
 
"U/S Burns, who headed U.S. delegation meetings with Cabinet Chief 
Fernandez, Foreign Minister Taiana and Minister De Vido assured 'We 
agreed it was a complete misunderstanding, and decided to leave it 
behind us.' President Kirchner's greeting of the visitors was viewed 
as a sign of rapprochement...." 
 
- "Caress and a Slap on the Face" 
 
Fernando Gonzalez, leading Clarin political editor, opines (02/10) 
"Few images are as eloquent as yesterday's to assess today's links 
between both countries. A smiling President Kirchner entered the 
room where Nicholas Burns discussed with Cabinet Chief Fernandez the 
decision which left a U.S. energy fund definitively out of business. 
A caress and a slap on the face. This is the way in which Kirchner 
consolidates his relations with the U.S. The President smiles and 
doesn't want to be too distant from the world's leading power. But, 
above all and particularly in an election year, he doesn't want to 
suffer the consequences of appearing too close to George W. Bush's 
negative image." 
 
- "Despite Differences, U.S. Launches a Conciliatory Diplomatic 
Offensive" 
 
Gustavo Sierra, leading "Clarin" international analyst, comments 
(02/10) "During his 24 hours in Argentina, Nicholas Burns reiterated 
words that downplayed several differences. The controversy over a 
U.S. energy fund was a 'complete misunderstanding'. The general 
relationship with the country 'must leave behind past 
misunderstandings'. Regarding Venezuela, 'we don't want any more 
misunderstandings'. The general tone was conciliatory, seeking to 
avoid controversy, and full of praise for the Kirchner 
administration. If this visit, together with Shannon's, were used to 
measure the state of relations between Washington and Buenos Aires 
we might say there has been remarkable improvement, and that they 
can become even more important. 
 
"In less that two days, three important men of the Bush 
administration arrived in Buenos Aires. On Wednesday, there was the 
arrival of AG Gonzalez (a key White House element to justify 
Guantanamo), who had several meetings with GOA officials, though 
very discreetly, given his personality and the Embassy's reluctance 
to expose him to criticism), and Thursday evening, Burns and 
Shannon, displayed a real diplomatic offensive by a government that 
had only focused on Iraq. 
 
".... 'We want to beef-up and reinforce bilateral relations,' 
underscored Burns, who said he had invited Ministers Taiana and De 
Vido to visit Washington in the next weeks. And added Argentina is 
the most important U.S. partner in the region on the issue of 
nuclear non-proliferation... Also, at a CARI speech and during a 
press round table at the Embassy, he said Argentina is a bridge in 
Washington's relations with Bolivia and Ecuador... However, he left 
Venezuela out of the equation... and noting that 'Venezuela poses no 
danger to the U.S., but to the rest of the region'. 
 
- "Consequences of Transener Case: GOA Says Differences with U.S. 
Are Over" 
 
Leading "Clarin" (02/11) quotes Cabinet Chief Fernandez who, seeking 
to end the Transener issue, and putting it totally behind, said "'We 
understood each other and everything is clear'. He added there was 
understanding from both sides and that "we believe a genuine 
 
 
explanation was given". He also referred to the Burns-Shannon visit, 
saying 'bilateral relations are very good, cordial and correct', and 
that Kirchner achieved a 'mature relationship, with some points on 
which there's agreement and other's where there's not.' 
 
"....Fernandez made clear that the U.S. Embassy had only acted in 
defense of its companies, but also expressed concern for the way in 
which the problem was made public...." 
 
- "Kirchner wants to do More Business with Chavez" 
 
Mariano Obarrio, daily-of-record "La Nacion" political and 
diplomatic writer, says (02/11) "Kirchner will travel to Caracas on 
February 21 to negotiate with Chavez the purchase by Venezuela of a 
new series of Argentine bonds for up to 2 billion dollars, viewed by 
La Nacion as a political gesture of support of the Bolivarian 
leader. The GOA, for its part, will announce a joint oil investment 
in the Orinoco, in addition to speeding up the announced - but never 
implemented -- rescue of Sancor Milk Company, and the delayed 
project to build Venezuelan ships...." 
 
- "With Eyes Set on Washington and Paris" 
 
Eduardo Van der Kooy, leading "Clarn" political columnist, opines 
(02/11) "Amid differences and dtente, this is how Argentina has 
been developing its relations with Washington. Kirchner no longer 
believes rapprochement with Bush is possible. And perhaps the U.S. 
leader thinks the same. The good personal chemistry between them 
disappeared, but this vacuum is being replaced on both sides by 
intense diplomatic moves. 
 
"....(In the wake of Bush's planned trip to the region) Argentina is 
facing an election year and Bush's presence here, in the global 
context, would be uncomfortable for Kirchner. On the other hand, 
there was neither an official or-unofficial request from Buenos 
Aires or Washington for the U.S. president to even evaluate a visit 
to Argentina. 
 
".... Kirchner understood that, whether with Republicans or 
Democrats, the GOA had to reestablish a sensible relationship with 
the U.S., even with second-level officials. And one of the gestures 
that re-vamped the battered relationship was Kirchner's political 
support for the AMIA probe. 
 
Van der Kooy also praises Amb. Wayne's active and positive 
performance despite the 'inopportune' Eton Park letter, but noted 
the GOA's efforts aimed at downplaying differences, in its meetings 
with Burns, Shannon and even AG Gonzales over the issue of 
torture...." 
 
- "Kirchner is No Longer the Same with Washington" 
 
Political analyst Morales Sola in daily-of-record "La Nacion" 
(02/11) notes that "Burns is the first high-ranking international 
official to point out Kirchner is completely different from 
Chavez... Kirchner4s hostility towards the Bush administration, 
which began in the Summit and continued up to June 2006 when he 
complained of the U.S. in his visit to Spain, began to change after 
his last trip to New York in September, when even the Democrats gave 
him a cold shoulder. According to reliable sources, since then 
Kirchner ordered SIDE to intensify its cooperation with U.S. 
intelligence services, on terrorism, money laundering, 
drug-trafficking and common crime. But Kirchner's decision to 
support the AMIA investigation was what dramatically changed 
bilateral relations with Washington. Argentina's tension with Iran 
takes place at the worst moment of U.S.-Iran relations, and the 
conclusion of the Argentine prosecutors is, so far, the only 
concrete evidence in the world that Iran is a State linked with 
terrorism...." 
 
- "Pros and Cons" 
 
Political columnist Horacio Verbitsky writes in leftist Pagina 12 
(02/12) "The cordiality with which Cabinet chief Fernandez received 
Burns and Shannon and President Kirchner's welcome marks a 
difference from the GOA's attitude vis-`-vis AG Gonzales: the MFA 
suggested he be received by his counterparts only, and not by 
Kirchner, given his position on the issue of torture in Guantanamo 
and Abu Ghraib...." 
 
- "Agreement with the U.S. to Keep Iran in Check" 
 
Daily-of-record La Nacion  says (02/11) The Kirchner administration 
agreed with the two State Department envoys that both countries will 
strengthen their joint policies aimed at promoting nuclear 
non-proliferation, and that they will prevent Iran from moving 
 
 
forward in that strategic U.S. issue. 
 
"Reliable Government House sources confirmed that this issue was 
thoroughly discussed at Friday's meetings, and both U.S. officials 
were particularly interested in the matter. 
 
"This is no minor issue, because Iran is a strategic ally of 
Venezuela's, and President Chavez, is Kirchner's partner on energy 
and finance projects, and trade and business deals. 
 
".... Burns said 'Argentina is the strongest partner in the region 
on the issues of non-proliferation and terrorism. These issues are 
in the heart of U.S. foreign policy, and are of enormous interest to 
us'.  Given his emphasis, Argentina's commitment was one of the 
mission's goals in Buenos Aires. And he underscored that Argentina, 
together with the U.S. is leader in non-proliferation and in issues 
connected with Iran' at the IAEA...." 
 
- "Washington's 'Realistic' U-turn for the Region" 
 
Eduardo Amadeo writes in business-financial, center-right "BAE" 
(02/12) "The visit of two high-ranking USG officials represents a 
U-turn in its recent 'back-yard' policy. 
 
"During the first years of his administration, Bush's policy for the 
region was anything but successful... Noriega repeated again and 
again the same mistakes... and it wasn't surprising for the State 
Department's relationship with Latin American leaders to range from 
confrontation to coldness, a situation which Chavez used in his 
favor. 
 
".... When Shannon took over as A/S he said, regarding Evo in 
Bolivia, 'we've already made enough mistakes in the past. Today, our 
opinion on Bolivia may be counterproductive: so better not harass 
Evo'. This positive change was made clear during the recent visit of 
Burns and Shannon. 
 
".... To the surprise of many, they insisted on respect for 
differences, non intervention on sovereign decisions and the role of 
regional leaders seeking solutions to key issues, such as Bolivia 
and Ecuador. 
 
"Both U.S. officials made their best efforts in minimizing any 
difference with Kirchner and remarked the existence of common 
adversaries. Finally, they proposed positive topics, such as the 
joint development of bio-fuels. 
 
"This U-turn in the State Department's policy for the region...is 
nothing but realistic for a Latin America that is a complex 
ideological mosaic with highly conflictive societies...." 
 
- "U.S. Cynicism in Last Visit to Kirchner" 
 
Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" (02/12) runs a critical 
front-page editorial on U/S Burns' CARI speech which says "The 
audience of businessmen, politicians and diplomats invited by the 
U.S. delegation visiting the country came out more confused after 
this meeting. The only thing that was clear to them was the 
excessive U.S. zeal in praising Kirchner's human rights policy. 
Argentina was only recognized for two meritorious things: having 
come out of a dictatorship and for opening its markets, two actions 
that cannot be attributed to this government. And, on top of all, 
recent misunderstandings were minimized, while they praised 
bilateral ties with Brazil, (which was either due to lack of 
knowledge, given they were in Argentina - or cynicism.)" 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Terrorism, Crime Against Humanity" 
 
An editorial in daily-of-record "La Nacion" (02/11)... criticizes 
the Argentine Supreme Court for refusing to extradite ETA terrorist 
Lariz Iriondo to Spain. This was a serious historic mistake because 
not only States, but also individuals may commit crimes against 
Humanity. Crimes are against Humanity due to the type of the crime 
or the nature of the victims, not whether they involve a State or 
not. This is why those responsible for murdering or injuring 
innocent civilians due to domestic armed conflicts should be held 
responsible for what they did, like the rest of us. 
 
".... Most recently, on the AMIA case, Judge Canicoba Corral 
considered the terrorist attack a crime against Humanity, and 
therefore, doesn't prescribe. This decision must be considered a 
step forward... though the ruling poses doubt on the interpretation, 
because it refers to the State of Iran. 
 
 
 
".... In order for States to be able to fight against terrorism it's 
necessary to avoid interpretations that will exonerate those who 
flagrantly violated human rights." 
 
- "Summer Storm" 
 
An editorial in independent "La Prensa" (Sunday, p. 19) says "The 
incident with the USG over the sale of Transener was rapidly solved 
via diplomacy. In an effort to dispel the clouds in bilateral 
relations, the U.S. officials visiting Argentina said it had been a 
'misunderstanding and, after meeting with President Kirchner hailed 
bilateral relations, as they referred to Argentina as regional 
leaders on the issue of human rights and the fight against 
terrorism. This is perhaps an exaggerated but efficient way of 
putting an end to the incident...." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE