VZCZCXYZ0029
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1216/01 1731539
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221539Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8480
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001216 
 
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; ARGENTINE ANTI-TERRORIST LEGISLATION; 
CHAVEZ; DOHA ROUND; 06/22/07 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's most important international stories cover the questioning 
of Argentina's antiterrorist legislation based on some gaps which 
could lead to human rights abuses; Venezuelan President Hugo 
Chavez's reasons for pushing Nicaragua into Mercosur; and the view 
of Latin America and the Caribbean about the Doha Round. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS 
 
- "Passage of anti-terrorist legislation" 
 
Leading "Clarin" editorializes (06/22) "Through the Criminal Code 
amendment approved by Argentina's Legislative Branch, the country 
implemented the UN Convention to repress terrorist acts. While the 
passage of the legislation will avoid the sanctions announced by the 
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)... and Argentina needed to 
introduce new anti-terrorist legislation in the post September 11 
international scenario, the truth is that the Argentine Lower House 
hinted that a more thorough analysis should have been made to 
prevent distortions and (human rights) abuses. 
 
"... The legislation was drafted based on FATF recommendations but, 
according to some experts, some legal gaps could give rise to (human 
rights) abuses in implementing the legislation. We all expect the 
new legislation to become a useful tool in the global war against 
international terrorism through a cautious and reasonable 
implementation that will fully honor our national constitution." 
 
- Chavez, on the verge of an abyss" 
 
Business-financial "El Cronista" (06/22) carries an op-ed piece by 
Humberto Toledo, former Argentine Ambassador, who writes "Venezuelan 
President Hugo Chavez seeks to broaden his political horizon through 
the four Mercosur member-countries... However, the Brazilian 
Congress is an obstacle for him ... 
 
"If the Brazilian Congress does not pass Chavez' entry into 
Mercosur..., the Venezuelan leader will miss the opportunity to 
preside over the institution before the end of 2007 and, therefore, 
two major political projects of his expansionist policy could fall - 
on the one hand, starting a discussion about Cuba's return to the 
OAS with the support of Mercosur, and, on the other hand, proposing 
the entry of Nicaragua, Iran's brand-new partner, into the bloc in 
order to make Iran's presence in the region official. 
 
"... Mercosur by-laws have a democratic clause hindering the entry 
or stay of countries with dictatorial regimes in it. In this regard, 
Chavez is walking on the verge of an abyss and causing problems for 
loyal partners such as the Argentine president, who for now has kept 
silent regarding the attack on freedom of expression launched by 
Chavez against a TV channel. 
 
"However, President Kirchner will have to make a decision sooner or 
later regarding Chavez's reason for pushing Nicaragua into Mercosur, 
as a first step to open a trade relationship with Iran and obviously 
seeking to broaden the scenario of confrontation with the US." 
 
- "The Doha Round - the view of Latin America and the Caribbean" 
 
Business-financial "BAE" carries an opinion piece by Jose Luis 
Machinea, Executive Secretary of CEPAL (Economic Commission for 
Latin America and the Caribbean), who opines (06/22) "Last February, 
the Doha Round negotiations were resumed following more than six 
months of suspension... 
 
"This round, defined as the Development Round, acknowledges that the 
multilateral system emerging from the 1993 Uruguay Round was an 
insufficient engine for development. In spite of the progress made 
from the old GATT, the Uruguay Round was unable to tackle the 
challenges posed by its increasing number of members. Many 
developing countries are still unable to take advantage of a more 
stable and predictable ruling system. 
 
"... A strong multilateral system has proven to benefit developing 
countries. The developing countries that are members of the WTO have 
learned to build coalitions among themselves and even with developed 
countries to defend their interests. The G20 and other groups seek 
to ensure that the outcome of the Doha Round will be balanced. This 
is a significant change vis-`-vis 20 years ago and reflects the 
importance of the WTO as a forum of negotiations for developing 
countries. 
 
"For Latin America and the Caribbean, market access, particularly 
for agricultural products, is a central issue of the Doha agenda... 
 
"... It is in the framework of the WTO that developing countries 
 
have been able to successfully tackle claims against protectionist 
policies. There is no other international organization in which 
developing countries can efficiently challenge these kinds of 
policies. 
 
"Current negotiations should be concluded by the end of 2007. The 
countries whose policies negatively impact trade with developing 
countries should mostly be held responsible for this. If this 
objective is not achieved in the next weeks, we could have to wait 
several years before negotiations are resumed in the framework of 
the WTO - an unfortunate scenario for developing countries." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MATERA