VZCZCXYZ0023
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1131/01 2881649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151649Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4478
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001131 
 
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: HONDURAS; AL GORE TO ARGENTINA; 10/15/09; 
BUENOS AIRES 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's leading international stories are related to the agreement 
reached by Honduran negotiators, which is aimed at ending a 
political crisis triggered by President Manuel Zelaya's ouster; and 
the visit of former US Vice President Al Gore to Argentina and his 
lecture on climate change in Buenos Aires province. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS 
 
- "The best possible deal, although it is far from the ideal one" 
 
Marcelo Falak, business-financial "Ambito Financiero's" 
international columnist, opines (10/15), "The international 
community, particularly the part that is interested in the Honduran 
crisis, has good reasons to celebrate the principle of agreement 
that seems to have been reached on the re-democratization of the 
country. 
 
"Nonetheless, one should notice that this celebration has a lot to 
do with relief, given that coup mongers were too close to setting a 
new and dangerous precedent for the region. On second thoughts, have 
they not got their way? 
 
"... In principle, one should bear in mind that international 
pressure is on the verge of restoring to power an ousted, kidnapped 
and deported president (regardless of the mistakes that he must have 
made). 
 
"... This outcome is the best possible due to many reasons, such as 
Zelaya's political inability to lead an uprising to return to the 
government... Anyway, one should acknowledge that coup mongers will 
largely get their way: they managed to hold Zelaya for almost four 
months, once he is restored to power he will face strong 
restrictions, they maintained the election calendar that will put an 
end to a populist experiment, and they will get rid of the judicial 
sanctions that should be imposed on them." 
 
- "A symbolic restitution?" 
 
Leading "Clarin's" international columnist Pablo Biffi writes 
(10/15), "Both the entourage of Honduran ousted president Manuel 
Zelaya and the de facto Micheletti administration have spoken 
yesterday of 'progress' in negotiations in restoring Zelaya to 
power... 
 
"More than 100 days after the coup d'etat, it is hard to imagine 
what reasons Zelaya's supporters may have to show optimistic when 
they are not quite sure that 'Mel' will immediately be restored to 
the government with full powers and honors... 
 
"What seems clear is that the coup mongers' only goal was and still 
is that Zelaya does not return, and if he does so, that he is barely 
a symbol - (that Zelaya returns) just a few days before his term in 
office is over only to legitimize the president-elect in November 29 
elections. And it is also clear that since Zelaya was ousted, 
Micheletti has only been a front for the real power behind the coup 
and that he could leave the stage to give way to a third party who 
might make appear as 'institutional' what is clearly illegal and 
illegitimate. This seems to be the reason why Micheletti wants the 
Supreme Court (an ally of coup mongers) and not the Congress to 
decide whether Zelaya, who has little popular support, should return 
to power, when and under which conditions. If this is so, the 
tendency to stage coups d'etat will have been created and their goal 
will be met, and this will set a dangerous precedent for the 
region." 
 
- "The countdown started" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion's" columnist Laura Rocha comments 
(10/15), "Former US Vice President Al Gore arrived in our country 
less than two months away from the Copenhagen Summit, which will 
debate a new limit on greenhouse gas emissions, which are mostly 
produced by developed countries. 
 
"Nobel Peace Prize Winner Al Gore said: 'There is big hope in the 
upcoming Copenhagen Summit. I know my country has the main 
responsibility and I expect this time a world commitment is 
reached.' 
 
"Nonetheless, Gore acknowledged yesterday something that has many 
times been said about international institutions: 'I do not think 
the G20 or the UN have the capacity of reaching a deal. Many times 
those meetings are only held for the photo-op. The UN is not 
effective either, except when they work along with world leaders, 
like in the UN General Assembly or the UN Security Council.' 
 
"This is why, according to Gore, it is necessary to strengthen 
carbon dioxide markets, which will be paid to non-pollutant 
countries... 
 
"Only Europe and Japan are really working to achieve this purpose. 
Even though Gore assured that 931 American cities supported the 
Kyoto proposal, the US still contributes a good share to world 
pollution. 
 
"However, the most important focus of debate in preparation for the 
summit is the aid for poor countries, which is estimated to be no 
less than 100 billion dollars per year so that they can face climate 
change-related expenditures and adapt themselves to the new weather 
trends. 
 
"All these topics will be dealt with in only 52 days. The countdown 
has started." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MARTINEZ