VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1938/01 2701433
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271433Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9368
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001938 
 
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; KIRCHNER'S ADDRESS TO THE UNGA; ARGENTINE 
FIRST LADY SPEECH AT THE COA; ARGENTINA'S INTERNATIONAL TIES; 
09/27/07 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's leading international stories include Argentine President 
Nstor Kirchner's tough talk against Iran at the UNGA; chances that 
Cristina Kirchner could be received by US President Bush if she wins 
the Argentine presidency; the US business community reaction to 
Senator and Presidential Candidate Cristina Kirchner's address to 
the Council of the Americas; and Argentina's current international 
relations. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS 
 
- Iron fist against Iran" 
 
Liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald" editorializes 
(09/27) "President Nstor Kirchner's tough talk against Iran at the 
UNGA on Tuesday is all the more remarkable because there was no real 
attempt at ideological balance by handing out a comparable 
tongue-lashing to US President George W. Bush (increasingly the 
choice target for criticism worldwide)... Kirchner did criticize 
Bush's Iraq venture in 'I told you so' tones about the virtues of 
multilateralism but this multilateral logic makes it all the more 
incumbent on countries like Argentina to join in the crackdown 
against Iran in order to avoid repeating unilateral errors... 
 
"The tone of Kirchner's speech was in many ways dictated by its 
context - by presences and absences alike. The only possible factor 
modifying Kirchner's severity against Iran would be the latter's 
newfound ally Hugo Chvez of Venezuela, whose fuel and cash 
injections into Argentina have been increasingly valuable props for 
the Kirchner presidency in recent years. But Chvez was strangely 
absent... while Bush, who was present, was mute on the subject of 
Iran, thus making it easier for Kirchner to criticize Iran without 
going down any US-led warpath. This combination of factors plus the 
presence of First Lady Cristina Fernndez de Kirchner (with her 
carefully fostered ties with the New York Jewish community) should 
make it no surprise if Kirchner's speech was stiffly worded enough 
to satisfy all Jewish community leaders present. 
 
"Nothing else in the speech (neither the compulsive criticisms of 
the IMF nor the vague comments on UN Security Council reform) merit 
further comment - even the anti-British statements did not go beyond 
what could be expected from all weekend's media ripple over South 
Atlantic territorial waters in the 25th anniversary of the Malvinas 
war - but Kirchner's tough talk to Iran deserves praise for its 
courage and clarity." 
 
- "If Cristina wins, she could well be received by Bush" 
 
 
Ana Barsn, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarn," 
comments (09/27) "After the distancing that resulted from the 
Chvez-led anti-Bush rally in Argentina, a high-ranking US State 
Department official acknowledged to 'Clarn' that it was they who 
asked for a meeting between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and 
FM Jorge Taiana, which will happen tomorrow. Furthermore, the source 
did not dismiss the possibility that if Cristina wins the election, 
George W. Bush could receive her before she takes office. 
 
"... 'Clarn' was able to confirm that the US is concerned over 
'Iran's infiltration in Latin America and the way in which Chvez 
convinced Evo Morales to re-establish ties to Tehran.' Because of 
this, rather than because of what it could mean in the Middle East 
conflict, Kirchner's anti-Iran posture is highly valued. 
 
"The US will support the request for the capture of the Iranians at 
Interpol because it managed to remove from the list the three 
Iranians who were government officials (former president Al 
Rafsanjani, former FM Al Akbar Velayati and former Ambassador Hadi 
Solemainpour). (The US) does not want to set a precedent and pave 
the way for the request of Donald Rumsfeld's capture, for example." 
 
- "Many investors left bothered and with no responses" 
 
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based for daily-of-record "La Nacisn," 
writes (09/27) "... Neither Cristina's speech nor the Q&A session 
included any mention of the situation at the INDEC national 
statistics agency, price controls, the continuing defaulted debt nor 
public utility rates, among other topics for which analysts sent 
written questions but that no one ever read. 
 
"This set off an apparent malaise among the guests. Daniel Kernel, 
analyst for the Southern Cone for Eurasia Group, the world's leading 
global political consulting firm, said: 'It was disrespectful. Her 
address left as many doubts in the air as those we had before the 
event.' 'We did not expect her to say much, but she could have 
 
 
conveyed good signals, for example, about inflation or public 
utility rates.' 
 
"Other eight Wall Street analysts and businessmen consulted by 'La 
Nacisn' after the luncheon repeated the same complaints, under 
condition of anonymity. One of them said: 'Those who thought that 
she was going to announce something strong were wrong, although the 
good thing is that she showed a pro-business attitude, but she said 
nothing about INDEC or holdouts and that was not good.'" 
 
- "Globalization and Argentina's international relations" 
 
Business-financial "Buenos Aires Econsmico-BAE" front-pages an 
opinion piece by its editorial director and prestigious economist 
Aldo Ferrer, who writes (09/27) "... In a global world, Argentina 
should establish ties that are functional to the deployment of its 
potential development... How to do this is a crucial dilemma for 
which Argentina has two alternate possibilities, one coming from 
neo-liberalism and the other towards the achievement of national 
development. 
 
"... Argentina is currently a country that respects international 
law; it has regained control over its own destiny in a global world 
and has confirmed its democratic form of government. 
 
"International relations are not idyllic, and conflicts could 
naturally appear between Argentina and other countries in the 
defense of national interests on issues such as the environment, 
IPR, finances or the trade regime. These are normal problems and 
under no circumstances involve any risk of rupture with any country 
or pose a threat to Argentine interests. The country's current 
international ties are functional to the deployment of its potential 
development and to an effective and realistic defense of its 
sovereignty." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE