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FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7437
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMRC/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BUENOS AIRES 000411 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR P HEIDE BRONKE 
WHA FOR TOM SHANNON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PTER AA ASEC ETRD IAEA CU HA
IR, XF, CO, VZ, DP, AR 
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: FEBRUARY 9 BURNS/SHANNON MEETING WITH 
FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS 
 
REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 000173 
 
     ¶B. SECSTATE 16451 
     ¶C. SECSTATE 15808 
 
Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.(C)  SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana,s working 
lunch for U/S Burns and delegation February 9 provided an 
opportunity for consultation on a wide range of foreign 
policy priorities. U/S Burns raised several areas for 
improved cooperation between the U.S. and Argentina: Haiti, 
Cuba, Bolivia, GOA participation in a NATO peacekeeping 
initiative, and a U.S.-Russian nuclear terrorism initiative. 
He also clarified the U.S. position on Venezuela, the 
follow-on to Plan Colombia, Iran, and the Middle East peace 
process.  Taiana and members of his delegation reiterated the 
message that Argentina seeks a respectful and cooperative 
relationship with the U.S., raised concerns over the Doha 
round, and discussed specific issues of regional stability. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C)  U.S. Participants: 
-- Under Secretary for Political Affairs R. Nicolas Burns 
-- Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs 
Thomas Shannon 
-- Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne 
-- DCM Michael Matera 
-- William McIlhenny, Member, Policy Planning Council (S/P) 
-- Heide Bronke, P Special Assistant 
-- Michelle Baldwin, Notetaker 
 
Argentine Participants: 
-- Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana 
-- Vice Foreign Minister Roberto Garcia Moritan 
-- Secretary for International Trade Alfredo Chiaradia 
-- Under Secretary for Economic Integration and Mercosur 
Eduardo Sigal 
-- Under Secretary for Foreign Policy Luis Capaggli 
-- Under Secretary for Latin America Agustine Colombo 
Sierra 
-- Director General for North American Affairs Vicente 
Espeche Gil 
-- Chief of Staff of FM Taiana, Alberto D'Alotto 
-- Maria Belen Garcia Alcat, Notetaker 
 
¶3.  (C) On February 9, Under Secretary Burns, Assistant 
Secretary Shannon, and Ambassador Wayne, met with Argentine 
 
SIPDIS 
Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, both in a small restricted 
meeting (see septel) and in a broader discussion over  lunch. 
 Taiana welcomed the USG delegation and praised the close 
relations between Argentina and the U.S. 
 
---------- 
Doha Round 
---------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Taiana asked Foreign Ministry Trade Secretary Alfredo 
Chiaradia to open the conversation with his views on the Doha 
round.  Chiaradia emphasized the importance of agriculture to 
Argentina and other developing countries and that a 
successful round will require "sensible" trade-offs  that are 
balanced and fair.  Repeating arguments he made  two weeks 
earlier to Deputy USTR John Veroneau (see reftel  A), 
Chiaradia said that Argentina could not agree to  developed 
nation demands for NAMA tariff cuts in the 70 percent  range. 
 He made it clear that Argentina would not succumb to a 
negotiating process whereby a small group reached agreement 
and expected others to follow.   He added that the GOA shares 
our desire for increased agricultural access from developing 
countries.  On bilateral trade issues, Chiaradia said he is 
"quite happy" with the progress of trade relations, 
particularly after GSP was renewed for Argentina.  On the 
regional level, he noted that Argentina wants to protect 
Mercosur because the organization plays an important role in 
"balancing" South America. 
 
¶5.  (C) Ambassador Wayne said that President Bush had made it 
clear that a positive outcome in the Doha round is a USG 
priority.  He noted that everyone will have to give up some 
part of their positions to reach an agreement, but that some 
 
BUENOS AIR 00000411  002 OF 004 
 
 
countries are not willing to take the necessary steps.  On 
bilateral trade issues, he noted the U.S. desire for better 
IPR protection in Argentina. 
 
----- 
Haiti 
----- 
 
¶6.  (C) U/S Burns explained that the U.S. is providing 
increased economic aid for Haiti to help sustain  MINUSTAH, 
the United Nations Stabilization Mission in  Haiti, and to 
ensure the stability of the Preval government.   Vice FM 
Garcia Moritan said that Argentina is planning to be more 
active on Haiti.  He said that the GOA will attend a South 
American initiative meeting in Lima in early March that will, 
among other actions, discuss calling for a UNSC special 
session on Haiti.  Garcia Moritan said that the group would 
like to approach the new UNSC president in March to raise 
attention for Haiti.  U/S Burns expressed U.S. support for 
this initiative.  Garcia Moritan added, however, that 
Argentina cannot maintain troops in Haiti forever, as in the 
case of Cyprus, and that further progress needs to be seen in 
the coming months. 
 
¶7.  (C)  U/S Burns raised the importance of a one-year 
extension of the MINUSTAH mandate (see reftel C) and asked 
the FM to intervene with the Chinese to help encourage  their 
support.  The FM said Argentina would weigh in with the 
Chinese. 
 
---- 
Cuba 
---- 
 
¶8.  (C) U/S Burns expressed the U.S. hope that Argentina will 
lead Latin America in encouraging democracy and human rights 
in Cuba.  He underscored the need for partners in the 
hemisphere to maintain a dialogue on Cuba and encourage a 
peaceful transition to democracy.  A/S Shannon urged 
Argentina to push Cuba to release its political prisoners. 
Garcia Moritan suggested that U.S. legislation would have to 
change in order to facilitate more economic openness in Cuba. 
 He said that if there were a broader scenario of openness 
toward Cuba, it would be easier for Latin America to 
participate in democratization efforts.  Ambassador Wayne and 
A/S Shannon replied that Latin American leadership on these 
issues was important for creating new opportunities. 
 
------- 
Bolivia 
------- 
 
¶9.  (C) U/S Burns explained that the State Department had 
five months ago agreed to the renewal of counternarcotics 
(CN) assistance to Bolivia, but that we were only one month 
away from having to repeat the certification process.  He 
said that the U.S. did not see any indication that Bolivian 
President Evo Morales had made a real effort to reduce coca 
plantings, which would make recertification difficult.  U/S 
Burns asked Taiana for advice on how to engage Bolivia on the 
drug issue.  Taiana said that this is a complicated issue for 
Argentina as well; both coca production and import are 
illegal in Argentina, but there is a coca chewing tradition 
in the northern provinces.  Given this, Morales is asking 
Argentina to accept exports from Bolivia.  Garcia Moritan 
said that the GOA shares U.S. concerns over drug trafficking 
in Bolivia.  Ambassador Wayne noted the rising Argentine 
consumption of paco, a cocaine residual byproduct, and its 
consequences on crime  and public health.  Garcia Moritan 
said that this epidemic is on the top of the GOA agenda. 
 
-------- 
Colombia 
-------- 
 
¶10.  (C) U/S Burns explained the Administration's efforts to 
renew Plan Colombia this year and the importance it has on 
stemming global drug flows.  He said that the plan has 
received significant support from the U.S. Congress, though 
questions remain as to military abuses and human rights 
 
BUENOS AIR 00000411  003 OF 004 
 
 
violations in Colombia.  He mentioned that Colombia still 
needs to demonstrate that its judicial system is effectively 
trying and prosecuting criminals.  He underscored U.S. 
concerns about cross-border drug flows into Venezuela and how 
Hugo Chavez might be exacerbating the problem.  A/S Shannon 
explained that we are seeing increasing political ties 
between the FARC/ELN and Chavez's  administration.  Taiana 
said that he believes the FARC had  political origins, but 
that now their activity appears to  be little more than 
trying to survive on drug trafficking. 
 
---- 
Iran 
---- 
 
¶11.  (C) On non-regional issues, U/S Burns made clear that 
the U.S. has no intention to go to war with Iran.  He 
explained that the U.S. is solely focused on a diplomatic 
solution to the current nuclear arms crisis with Iran.  He 
also said that U.S. troops have detained some Iranians in 
Iraq because they were teaching explosive technology to 
Iraqis and causing the deaths of U.S. troops.  Taiana said he 
was pleased to hear about the USG commitment to a diplomatic 
solution to the crisis with Iran and agreed fully with this 
approach.  He stressed the need for the international 
community to work together to engage Iran.   U/S Burns said 
that Iran is violating the directives of the IAEA and is 
likely to make an announcement of further nuclear 
developments on the upcoming anniversary of their revolution. 
 Burns noted that the U.S. is working with Russia on a second 
draft UNSC resolution aimed at pushing Iran towards 
negotiations.  China and Russia agree that we cannot sit by 
and do nothing while Iran continues nuclear research. 
 
----------------------------- 
NATO Peacekeeping Partnership 
----------------------------- 
 
¶12.  (C) U/S Burns raised a recent NATO initiative to 
establish a global partnership with countries that are 
effective in peacekeeping missions.  He noted that Brazil and 
Argentina should be included in this partnership based on 
their demonstrated peacekeeping performance.  However, U/S 
Burns said that he understood from press coverage that 
Argentina has withdrawn its defense attach from Brussels 
(and SACEUR), which would make it much more difficult to 
coordinate this partnership.  Garcia Moritan explained that 
the GOA was studying the redeployment of military attachs 
worldwide to provide broader coverage, including in many 
locations that now do not have military attachs.  Taiana 
explained that the GOA had no intention of cutting ties with 
NATO but that it is becoming politically difficult to 
maintain Argentine troops in non-UN peacekeeping missions. 
As an example, he indicated that Argentina will be 
"redeploying" its peacekeeping force in Kosovo.  He said that 
they were not abandoning their peacekeeping efforts, just 
redeploying the forces.  He said Argentina would find a way 
to maintain its links with NATO. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶13.  (C) U/S Burns raised the Global Initiative to Combat 
Nuclear Terrorism (reftel B) and invited the GOA to sign on 
to the principles of the initiative and to participate. 
Both Taiana and Garcia Moritan were interested in learning 
more about the initiative and how the GOA could participate. 
Non-papers provided in reftel B were left with the MFA. 
 
----------------- 
Middle East Peace 
----------------- 
 
¶14.  (C) Garcia Moritan asked how the U.S. sees the situation 
in the Middle East.  U/S Burns briefed the group on the 
evolving USG approach to the Middle East peace process, 
including Secretary Rice's upcoming trip to the region to 
explore means for a new push to resolve the  Arab-Israeli 
conflict.  Burns said that Secretary Rice looked forward to 
 
BUENOS AIR 00000411  004 OF 004 
 
 
discussing the new approach with Taiana when he visits 
Washington in the near future. 
 
---------------- 
Ethanol/Biofuels 
---------------- 
 
¶15.  (SBU) Foreign Trade Secretary Chiaradia asked about 
talks on ethanol in Brazil and indicated that the GOA is 
interested in participating in any USG initiative to promote 
the global production of ethanol.  U/S Burns said that he had 
already publicly welcomed Argentine participation in biofuels 
initiatives in his speech earlier that day at the Argentine 
Council for International Relations (CARI), and expressed 
hope we could develop a  dialogue to take cooperation forward. 
 
WAYNE