VZCZCXYZ0024
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0868/01 1231535
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031535Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8044
NFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000868 
 
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; US-LATIN AMERICAN TIES; URIBE TO THE US; 
UNITAS EXERCISE; WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY; 05/03/07; BUENOS AIRES 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Key international stories today include the US-Latin American 
relationship, according to Karen Tramontano, former Clinton advisor; 
Colombian President Uribe's trip to Washington; the UNITAS military 
exercise; and today's celebration of World Press Freedom Day. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS 
 
- "'The US-Latin American relationship could be rebuilt'" 
 
Jorge Sosa, international columnist of business-financial "El 
Cronista," penned (05/03) "She (Karen Tramontano) thoroughly knows 
the Democrats' moves on Capitol Hill. She is a former advisor to ex 
president Bill Clinton during his last period in the White House... 
and now works for DutkoWorldwide, an influential lobbying agency in 
Washington, where she provides counsel to Democratic legislators. 
During an interview with 'El Cronista' in Buenos Aires, Karen 
Tramontano said that if Democrats win presidential elections next 
year, they will give more strategic importance to the region. 
 
"Asked about Washington's view of Latin America and why Bush made a 
trip to the region in March, Tramontano answered 'One of the 
greatest reasons for disappointment for many people in Washington 
have is that the US-Latin American relationship is not stronger. 
Many people are adopting extreme positions both regarding President 
Bush and President Chavez and finally it is people who end up 
suffering in both nations. Both the US and South America can be 
strong if they work together and do not slide towards isolation. The 
Democratic majority on Capitol Hill (even Republican leaders), 
intellectuals and businessmen who traveled to Latin America see the 
connection and the possibility of building greater integration in 
the hemisphere. There is a great opportunity for the public and 
private sectors in Argentina and the US to rebuild a relationship 
that existed in the past.'" 
 
- "Uribe seeks Washington's cooperation" 
 
Maria Laura Carpineta, columnist of left-of-center "Pagina 12," 
writes (05/03) "Alvaro Uribe will knock on every single door during 
his three-day tour, which he started in Washington yesterday. The 
Colombian president is determined to convince the White House, 
Capitol Hill, NGOs and trade unions about the strategic need to 
support his country, both on the military and commercial level. His 
two main goals are: unlocking the approval of funds for the struggle 
against drug trafficking, the so-called Plan Colombia, and obtaining 
the Democratic legislators' support for an FTA, which the two 
nations signed last November. However, the Colombian president will 
have to demonstrate to the US opposition that neither he nor his 
government helped the paramilitary, an organization Washington 
considers terrorist. Yesterday, he said 'Perhaps I will have to 
apologize for some mistakes but never for crimes.' 
 
"Last month, the Chairman of the US Senate Committee on the 
Judiciary, Patrick Leahy, ordered to freeze the 55 million dollar 
package for Colombia as a sign of mistrust over the Uribe 
administration's human rights policy. Plan Colombia was originally 
Bill Clinton's idea and it has always been supported by the 
Democratic Party. However, this support could now be uncertain due 
to the close ties between President George W. Bush and Uribe and 
particularly due to the increasing claims on possible ties between 
Uribe and the paramilitary leaders when Uribe was governor of 
Antioquia. Add to this, the Democrat's reticence on bilateral trade 
deals. This is why Capitol Hill has locked the approval of three 
FTAs with Latin American countries - Colombia, Peru and Panama." 
 
- "The 'UNITAS Operation' will start today" 
 
Natasha Niebieskikwiat, columnist of leading "Clarin," writes 
(05/03) "For now, the US has set aside its request for Argentina to 
grant immunity to US troops in its territory. In this way, the 
(Argentine) Senate passed a request from the Executive Branch for 
foreign troops to participate in the Atlantic phase of the 48th 
UNITAS Military exercise in Puerto Belgrano and Ushuaia. 
 
"According to high-ranking sources, out of the total number of 1,500 
troops, 900 come from the US, which has not occurred since the last 
UNITAS exercise held in 2003. 
 
"... According to the Defense Ministry and Congress, this time 
Washington did not request troop immunities, which had created 
serious tension with Argentina because the country refuses to grant 
immunities to any kind of foreign troops. Actually, the legislation 
passed yesterday by the Senate clearly specifies this." 
 
- "Press freedom" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" editorializes (05/03) "... Today, May 3, 
we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, which was established in 1993 
by the UN General Assembly. For this reason, the prestigious Freedom 
House NGO issued its usual report on press freedom in several parts 
of the world. 
 
"... Regarding Latin America, the most important injury to press 
freedom is seen in Venezuela, whose totalitarian political system 
leaves less and less maneuvering room for the independent media. 
However, in other countries (such as Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, 
Brazil, Paraguay or the Dominican Republic) there are clear 
pressures against free media although freedom of expression 
seemingly prevails. 
 
"Today, it would be important for Argentine authorities to reflect 
on their behavior with the media and on the treatment of public 
information. The president of Argentina has not granted any press 
conference ever since he took over in 2003 and public information is 
frequently treated as though it was private property of restricted 
access. The government should change these kinds of attitudes for 
the sake of democracy... 
 
"... Every authoritarian demand on the media hides an attack against 
democracy and the purpose of controlling and even annulling the 
rights of citizens. Without free media, there is no democracy, and, 
finally, there are no citizens either." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE