VZCZCXYZ0022
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1063/01 2661530
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231530Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4389
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001063 
 
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: ZELAYA'S RETURN TO HONDURAS; PRESIDENT 
CRISTINA KIRCHNER TO NEW YORK; 09/23/09; BUENOS AIRES 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Key international stories are focused on the implications of ousted 
President Zelaya's return to Honduras; as well as President Cristina 
Kirchner's first formal meeting with IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn 
in the framework of her trip to the US. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS 
 
- "(Zelaya's return to Honduras) drew surprise at the UN, which 
afterwards gave way to concern" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion's" Washington-based correspondent Silvia 
Pisani writes (09/23), "In just 24 hours, the heads of State 
attending the UN General Assembly initially reacted with surprise at 
Manuel Zelaya's return to Honduras but, later on, they showed 
concern over it, particularly those that are most directly affected 
by it. 
 
"... Behind the scenes, the Brazilian delegation's 'mounting 
concern' was remarkable. Then, it transcended that the Lula 
administration requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security 
Council. However, the initiative was not supported by some Latin 
American countries, particularly Mexico and Costa Rica. The latter 
insisted on prioritizing President Oscar Arias' mediator role. On 
the other hand, the countries aligned with Venezuelan President Hugo 
Chavez did not believe either that the UN Security Council should 
intervene. Last night, Brazil asked for regional support to move on 
with its initiative. 
 
"Last night, they feared the de facto government of Roberto 
Micheletti could decide to denounce the Vienna Treaty and suspend 
the inviolability of the diplomatic territory by storming into the 
Brazilian Embassy to arrest Zelaya... 
 
"Formally speaking, the Barack Obama administration has called for 
calm, dialogue and respect for the territory of the diplomatic 
mission. Ian Kelly, the State Department spokesperson, emphasized 
that it is 'a universally accepted principle in international 
relations.'" 
 
- "Pressures to find a way out" 
 
Marcelo Cantelmi, international editor of leading "Clarin," writes 
(09/23), "Unsolved issues can re-emerge at any moment, and when they 
do reappear they do not do it in a gentle way... What happens today 
in Honduras abides by this rule. 
 
"Manuel Zelaya's abrupt return to Tegucigalpa revived an unsolved 
conflict... Actually, Brazil seems to seek to prevent this coup from 
setting a precedent. In Honduras the de facto regime denounced Lula 
Da Silva's interference. They do not realize that given its 
importance, Brazil cannot allow a repetition of a disaster performed 
by an arrogant Honduran minority. If this works in Honduras, it 
could work in many other places when economic havoc weakens 
democracies... 
 
"... Nevertheless, Zelaya is in his country and this is a step 
forward in a badly needed negotiation. Additionally, the prevailing 
idea is that Washington was aware of the move given that the US 
takes Lula seriously. Barack Obama has already had his battle with 
Republican 'hawks,' who fiercely repudiated the agreements with 
Moscow on the antimissile shield. Honduras is a 'small fly' compared 
to such a controversy. Perhaps, precisely because of this, the time 
has come for the White House to take seriously this conflict." 
 
- "The weakest link" 
 
Left-of-center "Pagina 12" carries an opinion piece by international 
columnist Mario Wainfeld, who opines (09/23), "The official 
explanation (President Manuel Zelaya suddenly arrived at the 
Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa) sounds naove. However, even if one 
believes it (everything indicates that there was a previous 
agreement), President Lula da Silva's commitment with his Honduran 
counterpart is remarkable... Lula da Silva's abilities as an 
important national and regional leader are broadly recognized... He 
has consolidated Brazil as a world and regional power. 
 
"... The Honduran de facto regime does not seem a feasible regime in 
the medium term. A small nation which is 'not doomed to success' is 
not a good basis for survival in the event its government is 
internationally isolated. As never before in the cruel history of 
the 'backyard,' no state acknowledged the coup mongers. Nonetheless, 
the end is far from being automatic in the short run, given the 
radicalization of coup mongers, the presence of troops on the 
streets, the curfew and the siege. 
 
"Of course, 'one had to do something about it' in order to alter the 
pro-coup inertia... 
 
"Obviously enough, Lula da Silva believes the case is a crucial 
one... Almost one century ago, Lenin explained that socialism could 
emerge at the weakest link of the capitalistic system. Many Latin 
American presidents notice today that Honduras could be the weakest 
link in a chain that is worth keeping - the unusual coexistence of 
popular democratic regimes that guarantee sustainability to the 
neighborhood. 
 
"... Some USG agencies, some members of the government and political 
leaders are empathic with Micheletti, his methods and goals. One 
could argue whether President Barack Obama, who does not agree with 
them, is doing everything he can to defend the Honduran democratic 
system. It is a thorny debate and it is clear that the US foreign 
policy cannot give a 180-degree turn and that Obama is (in the best 
case) the most advanced leader his country can have although he is 
not a revolutionary. It is undeniable that the Obama 
administration's reaction to the coup was quite different from what 
the USG reaction to coups d'etat used to be in the past. Yesterday, 
while Obama was lecturing on climate change, the State Department 
made calls for peace without moving one single finger in favor of 
coup mongers. 
 
"Change is partial and slow, but some positive perspectives are 
ahead. Of course, the luck of our nations depends on our own 
actions, which explains and highlights Lula's decision. The time 
when he made it, while the UN General Assembly was gathering, gives 
it a special resonance..." 
 
- "Cristina (Kirchner) toughly rebuffs IMF head on the eve of the 
G20 Summit" 
 
Santiago Chelala, on special assignment in New York for 
business-financial "El Cronista," writes (09/23), "... Yesterday the 
(Argentine) Government had its first formal meeting with IMF head 
Dominique Strauss-Kahn... Expectation is focused on the search of 
funding, which could imply a return to the IMF... or the issuance of 
public securities, based on a previous negotiation with creditors 
('holdouts' and the Paris Club)... 
 
"In an exclusive panel with (IMF head) Strauss-Kahn, Larry Summers, 
President Barack Obama's chief economic advisor, and former Mexican 
President Ernesto Zedillo, Cristina reiterated the need to create an 
institution aimed at creating working positions rather than devoted 
to financial issues. She also complained that the IMF took Argentina 
as its best student during the '90s. She said: 'Without following 
those prescriptions, we grew at Chinese rates and we will also grow 
this year.' 
 
"Strauss-Khan turned down the Argentine initiative to crate a new 
institution... 
 
"The Argentine President also said that it is necessary to have 
egalitarian global rules - 'While countries like ours were asked to 
have tax and trade surplus, the US was spending more than what it 
should. There should not be two different handbooks according to the 
country.' 
 
"... In the morning, the Argentine president received businessmen, 
who criticized the lack of judicial security in the country and 
warned over the country-risk..." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MARTINEZ