VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1431/01 2051518
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241518Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8728
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001431 
 
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
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; IRAN TIES TO LATIN AMERICA; IMF LEADERSHIP; 
07/24/07 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Leading international stories include Israel's concern over Iran's 
growing ties to Latin America; and U.S.-Argentina concurrence on the 
appointment of the next head of the IMF. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS 
 
- "Israel is concerned over Iran's growing ties to Latin America" 
 
Shlomo Slutzky, Tel Aviv-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
writes (07/24) "The Israeli Foreign Ministry expressed its concern 
over what it considers a campaign of Iranian 'colonization' in Latin 
America, which is evident in Iran's ties to President Hugo Chavez 
and in the 'astronomic' number of Persian diplomats visiting Latin 
American embassies. 
 
"Sources from the Israeli Foreign Ministry expressed to 'Clarin' 
their concern over the possibility that some Iranian diplomats in 
Latin America are devoted to some tasks other than diplomacy, such 
as forming terrorist groups that are ready to act following Tehran's 
orders. 
 
"The Foreign Ministry source pointed out that the Argentine example, 
in which... Iranian diplomats are reported to have taken part in the 
attacks against the Israeli Embassy and the AMIA in 1992 and 1994, 
is a clear reason to fear an Iranian 'conquest' of Latin America... 
 
"... The Government is reported to be concerned over the 'strategic 
alliance' between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his 
Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez... 
 
"The Foreign Ministry denounced that, according to international 
reports, Venezuela is attempting to sell uranium to Iran in order to 
cooperate in developing its nuclear activity and that Caracas is 
reported to have counterfeited documents of equipment exports 
heading for Tehran. 
 
"In view of this panorama, Israeli representatives in Latin American 
capital cities pointed out that Iran jeopardizes world peace through 
terrorism and its nuclear program. 
 
"In bilateral conversations, several Latin American governments 
shared their concern with Israel. On the contrary, according to 
those reports, other countries reacted with lack of interest due to 
their commercial ties to Iran and their economic need for keeping 
those ties.'" 
 
- "Long-standing and new denunciations with an attentive look at 
South America" 
 
Oscar Raul Cardoso, international analyst of leading "Clarin," 
opines (07/24) "It is understandable that for Israel the cooperation 
between Venezuelan Hugo Chavez and Iranian Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is 
something like a love affair with hell. However, what is unusual is 
the fact that its Foreign Ministry uses the media to express its 
'concern' about some political developments in South America. 
 
"... While the gist of the Israeli complaint is not new..., some new 
elements imply that Israel is convinced that there is a new front 
gaining ground in South America, which is against its interests... 
 
"... The idea that Venezuela and Iran are acting as a source of hard 
currency for other countries of the region (including their joint 
military cooperation for Bolivia) is another point on which those 
sources insisted. 
 
"In the same way, one cannot consider their reference to the 
Tri-Border something new... 
 
"... Let's consider new reasons for malaise - Israel perceives some 
sort of Iranian diplomatic leakage on countries like Nicaragua, 
Ecuador and Chile, with which Tehran has increased its commercial 
ties and again with Venezuela, Mexico, Uruguay and Colombia... 
 
"... Barak Ravid (the author of the report) hinted that the Latin 
American governments which Israel has contacted with this 
denunciation do not seem to have much interest, which leads Israeli 
analysts to think that if the dispute over the Iranian nuclear 
program escalated and paved the way for more sanctions, South 
American countries would not have much of an incentive to cooperate 
with the punitive measures.  In fact, Tehran is transferring its 
international deposits to Venezuelan banks to protect them from 
future seizures. 
 
"Nonetheless, there is an additional element that does not seem to 
be included in the ministerial analysis - Israel's deteriorated 
 
image in South America following last year's brief although 
destructive war waged against Lebanon." 
 
- "Argentina supports the US in IMF tussle" 
 
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
writes (07/24) "The dispute over who will succeed the current IMF 
managing director, Rodrigo Rato, is 'on fire.' Europe is strongly 
pressuring in favor of Frenchman Dominique Strauss Khan. However, 
developing countries, led by Argentina, recalled that, as relevant 
to the ongoing IMF reform, the future managing director does not 
automatically have to be a European as has been the case so far, but 
he should rather be appointed based on merit. In this regard, 
Argentina backs the US position. 
 
"In a communiqu signed by the Argentine Central Bank head, Martin 
Redrado, the so-called G-24 emphasized that it is necessary to 
implement 'an open, transparent and multilateral selection system, 
now that the IMF is facing crucial challenges regarding its 
relevance and feasibility,' and that the IMF's legitimacy is at 
stake." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE