VZCZCXYZ0011
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0005/01 0021522
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021522Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2814
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000005 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EINV AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: MAYOR OF LA PLATA SEEKS CLOSER 
BILATERAL TIES 
 
REF: BUENOS AIRES 1653 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Mayor of Buenos Aires province's 
capital city of La Plata, Pablo Bruera, told Ambassador Wayne 
on December 15 that he hoped to improve public services to 
attract greater foreign investment.  He applauded the arrival 
of U.S.-based software development company Accenture, which 
would bring 330 jobs to La Plata, Argentina's fourth most 
populous city.  The Mayor said that he is working to 
establish La Plata as a "cultural city" but also hopes to 
make it a technological center.  He praised the close 
cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in recent years and said he 
would like to deepen relations through cultural cooperation 
agreements.  The Mayor made this appeal to the Ambassador for 
closer collaboration in the midst of a flap between the GoA 
and AES-owned local energy supplier Edelap (reftel).  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador met with Victory Front ruling party 
member and Kirchner ally Pablo Bruera, Mayor of Buenos Aires 
province's capital city, La Plata, on December 15 to 
follow-up on cooperation agreements discussed during the 
Ambassador's April 2008 trip to La Plata.  Rafael Velazquez, 
executive secretary of Pro Humanae Vital Foundation, an NGO 
that focuses on career development programs, social action, 
welfare, and environmental issues, also attended. 
 
---------------------- 
The View from La Plata 
---------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Mayor Bruera said the Buenos Aires provincial 
government has helped his city financially to endure the 
global economic crisis, but relayed that some projects are on 
hold for financial reasons.  He cited as top priorities 
improving public services, in particular transportation, and 
attracting greater foreign investment.  He applauded the 
arrival of U.S.-based company Accenture, which would provide 
330 software development jobs to the local economy.  The 
Mayor said that not only is he working to establish La Plata 
as a "cultural city" but he hopes to make it a technological 
hub and sees Accenture's presence as key to that effort. 
(Note: Accenture later told the Commercial Counselor that the 
company decided to extend its operation in La Plata with a 
five-year lease on a property near the University of La 
Plata, and the Mission called public attention to the 
decision with a press release applauding the extension.) 
 
----------------------- 
Strengthening U.S. Ties 
----------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Executive secretary and founding member of Pro 
Humanae Vital Foundation Rafael Velazquez expressed 
appreciation for the closer relations his foundation has had 
with the Embassy in recent years.  He noted that 36 speakers 
have participated in the U.S. speaker program in La Plata on 
NGO management and advocacy, which he helped co-organize. 
The Mayor and Velazquez also relayed that they were working 
to restore the "Children's Republic" in La Plata.  They 
expressed interest in commemorating a 1950s visit to the park 
by Walt Disney.  The Ambassador said FCS could help broker a 
meeting with Disney representatives.  Mayor Bruera noted that 
he hoped to revive La Plata's sister-city relationship with 
Louisville, Kentucky, which he described as a relationship 
"on paper" only. 
 
--------- 
On Edelap 
--------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) When asked by the Ambassador about the recent 
dispute between the GoA and the Argentine energy supplier 
Edelap, which is majority owned by U.S.-based energy company 
AES, the Mayor said he believes the main issue is that 
Edelap, which he said provides energy to six cities, is 
unable to provide sufficient service because of a lack of 
investment on the part of AES, which he claimed AES itself 
has admitted.  The Mayor described La Plata as a high 
consumer of energy because the country's most important 
petrochemical businesses are based there.  The Ambassador 
highlighted as positive AES's announcement on December 14 
that it intended to increase investment by ARP 300 million 
over five years, but noted that AES and other energy 
companies had long been seeking government authorization for 
tariff increases in order to allow for investment and 
re-investment in the sector. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Following the meeting, in a December 16 interview 
with a La Plata news website, the Mayor provided details 
about his discussion with the Ambassador about Edelap and 
AES, saying he detailed "the deficiencies" of Edelap's 
service and discussed "the need for Edelap to make 
investments to improve service."  He said the Ambassador was 
"confident" that the company would carry out its announced 
five-year investment plan. 
--- 
BIO 
--- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Bruera was elected Mayor of La Plata in October 
2007, beating the Peronist party candidate and former Mayor 
Julio Alak by 25% of the votes.  In 1997, Bruera was elected 
Municipal Counselor and president of the Peronist bloc of 
Municipal Counselors.  In 2001, he was reelected for this 
post, where he served until 2005, when he was elected 
provincial deputy, working in that capacity until assuming 
his current post.  Born in 1964, he is a relatively young 
mayor by Argentine standards.  Bruera received a law degree 
from the National University of La Plata (UNLP), where he 
specialized in political science.  Bruera also received a 
Master in Public Politics at Latin American Social Science 
Institute (FLACSO).  He is married; he and his wife have 
three children. 
 
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Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Despite political pressure to hit hard against 
AES-owned Edelap, the Mayor came to see the Ambassador to 
emphasize his objectives for making La Plata a friendly city 
for U.S. culture and investment.  The gesture and his 
comments to the press reflect the Mayor's interest in working 
closely with the U.S. Embassy. 
 
WAYNE