Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03BUENOSAIRES1747
2003-05-28 20:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

ARGENTINA: KIRCHNER TAKES OFFICE WITH PREDICTABLE

Tags:  PGOV MARR PREL AR CU 
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O 282027Z MAY 03
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1241
INFO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 
DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
USCINCSO MIAMI FL PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 0736
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BUENOS AIRES 001747 

STATE FOR WHA AND WHA/BSC
PASS NSC FOR HUGO LLORENS, JOANNA WALLACE AND JASON SINGER
PASS FED BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOR PATRICE ROBITAILLE
EX-IM BANK FOR MICHELE WILKINS
TREASURY FOR IA NANCY LEE, HEIDI CRUZ, BILL BLOCK, JAMES
JOHN AND RAMIN TOLUI, AND FOR OCC CARLOS HERNANDEZ
USDOC FOR ALEXANDER PEACHER
USDOL FOR ILAB PAULA CHURCH
USCINCSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2013
TAGS: PGOV MARR PREL AR CU
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: KIRCHNER TAKES OFFICE WITH PREDICTABLE
SPEECH BUT PURGES MILITARY LEADERSHIP

REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 1704

B. BUENOS AIRES 1662

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL MATERA. REASON 1.5 (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BUENOS AIRES 001747

STATE FOR WHA AND WHA/BSC
PASS NSC FOR HUGO LLORENS, JOANNA WALLACE AND JASON SINGER
PASS FED BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOR PATRICE ROBITAILLE
EX-IM BANK FOR MICHELE WILKINS
TREASURY FOR IA NANCY LEE, HEIDI CRUZ, BILL BLOCK, JAMES
JOHN AND RAMIN TOLUI, AND FOR OCC CARLOS HERNANDEZ
USDOC FOR ALEXANDER PEACHER
USDOL FOR ILAB PAULA CHURCH
USCINCSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2013
TAGS: PGOV MARR PREL AR CUBA'>CU
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: KIRCHNER TAKES OFFICE WITH PREDICTABLE
SPEECH BUT PURGES MILITARY LEADERSHIP

REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 1704

B. BUENOS AIRES 1662

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL MATERA. REASON 1.5 (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: NESTOR KIRCHNER'S MAY 25 INAUGURAL ADDRESS
WAS CONSISTENT WITH HIS CAMPAIGN MESSAGES ADVOCATING A
GREATER STATE ROLE IN THE ECONOMY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
MAINTAINING FISCAL DISCIPLINE. HE REPEATED HIS CAMPAIGN
PROMISE TO GIVE PROMINENCE OF PLACE TO ARGENTINA'S RELATIONS
WITH OTHER LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES, BEGINNING WITH MERCOSUR.
THE MODERATE TONE OF THE SPEECH WAS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO HIS
FIRST REAL ACTION AS PRESIDENT, IN WHICH HE NAMED A GENERAL
SERVING IN SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE TO HEAD THE ARMY, A MOVE
WHICH, ACCORDING TO MILITARY NORMS OF PROMOTION, WILL MEAN
THE DISMISSAL OF CLOSE TO HALF OF THE GENERALS IN THE ARMY.
IN THE AIR FORCE AND NAVY, KIRCHNER INTENDS TO PROMOTE JUNIOR
FLAG OFFICERS AS SERVICE CHIEFS AS WELL, WHICH WILL ALSO
PRODUCE MASS DISMISSALS IN THOSE SERVICES. MEMBERS OF THE
KIRCHNER ADMINISTRATION ALSO HINTED THAT THEY WOULD NOT STAND
IN THE WAY OF CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS TO IMPEACH THE MEMBERS OF
THE SUPREME COURT, AN ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD COULD LEAD TO
CONTINUED FIGHTING AMONG THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
REMINISCENT OF THAT WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
DUHALDE ADMINISTRATION. FIDEL CASTRO'S VISIT TO BUENOS AIRES
FOR THE INAUGURATION PROMPTED LARGE GATHERINGS AND AN
OUTPOURING OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE CUBAN LEADER. IN A
PRESS INTERVIEW, FOREIGN MINISTER BIELSA REFUSED TO CRITICIZE
CASTRO'S RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN CUBA, CLAIMING THAT SUCH A
CRITICISM WOULD BE "SUPERFICIAL." FINALLY, BIELSA CLAIMED
THAT KIRCHNER WOULD VISIT WASHINGTON ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT
"WITHIN 90 DAYS" AND FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (1995)
JOSE OCTAVIO BORDON WAS NAMED THE NEW ARGENTINE AMBASSADOR TO
THE UNITED STATES. END SUMMARY.



2. (U) NESTOR KIRCHNER'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS ON SUNDAY, MAY
25 WAS CONSISTENT WITH MANY OF THE THEMES OUTLINED DURING HIS
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN (REF A) AND PRODUCED NO SURPRISES. THE
MODERATE TONE OF THE ADDRESS WAS FAIRLY WELL-RECEIVED ACROSS
THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM HERE, WITH THE EXCEPTION BEING THOSE
POLITICAL FORCES LOYAL TO DEFEATED RIVAL CANDIDATES CARLOS
MENEM AND ADOLFO RODRIGUEZ SAA. ONE OF KIRCHNER'S MOST
FREQUENT THEMES WAS HIS CALL FOR A "SERIOUS" ADMINISTRATION,
ONE CHARACTERIZED MORE BY "DAY-TO-DAY WORK" RATHER THAN
"GRANDIOSE" ANNOUNCEMENTS OR PLANS. A FEW POINTS FROM THE
SPEECH FOLLOW.


3. (U) GREATER ROLE FOR THE STATE IN THE ECONOMY. KIRCHNER
DEFENDED HIS CALL FOR A "NATIONAL CAPITALISM" (I.E., STRONGER
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION, PROTECTING VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF
SOCIETY, INCREASED PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS
AS MEANS OF EMPLOYMENT),AS OPPOSED TO "THE MODEL OF
PERMANENT SPENDING CUTS," SAYING, "IT IS ENOUGH TO SEE HOW
THE MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES PROTECT THEIR PRODUCERS, THEIR
INDUSTRIES, AND THEIR WORKERS." PREDICTING THAT HIS
GOVERNMENT'S EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS WOULD PROVE
WRONG "NEOLIBERAL" CREEDS CRITICAL OF UNPRODUCTIVE PUBLIC
SPENDING, HE ASSERTED, "WE ARE NOT INVENTING ANYTHING NEW;
THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S OVERCAME THE DEEPEST ECONOMIC
CRISIS OF THE CENTURY IN THAT WAY."


4. (U) FISCAL BALANCE KEY. DESPITE THE EMPHASIS ON
KEYNESIAN-TYPE GOVERNMENT SPENDING, HE EMPHASIZED THAT
MAINTAINING BALANCE IN THE PUBLIC-SECTOR FISCAL ACCOUNTS --
BOTH AT THE NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL LEVELS -- WOULD BE
"FUNDAMENTAL." HE CONTINUED, "THE COUNTRY CANNOT CONTINUE
COVERING DEFICITS WITH PERMANENT INDEBTEDNESS NOR WITH
UNCONTROLLED MONEY CREATION." ON THE REVENUE SIDE, HE
REITERATED CALLS FOR A MORE PROGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM, LOWER TAX
RATES AS COLLECTION IMPROVED, AND STRONGER PROSECUTION OF TAX
EVASION. HE ALSO PLEDGED TO PURSUE A NEW PROVINCIAL
REVENUE-SHARING ARRANGEMENT THAT WOULD NOT ONLY IMPLY "NEW
DISTRIBUTION AND NEW RESPONSIBILITIES" BUT A "NEW MODEL OF
THE COUNTRY" AS WELL.


5. (U) FOREIGN POLICY: FIRST, LATIN AMERICA. HE
REITERATED HIS WELL-WORN THEME THAT ARGENTINA'S TOP FOREIGN
POLICY PRIORITY WOULD BE STRENGTHENING TIES WITH LATIN
AMERICA, BEGINNING WITH MERCOSUR. DISCARDING ANY TYPE OF
"AUTOMATIC ALIGNMENT" WITH THE UNITED STATES, HE STRESSED HIS
DESIRE FOR "A SERIOUS, BROAD, AND MATURE RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION." HE ALSO PLEDGED
THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD COOPERATE FULLY IN THE FIGHT
AGAINST TERRORISM.

--------------
FIRST STEP: MASS DISMISSALS IN THE MILITARY
--------------


6. (U) IN CONTRAST TO THE MODERATE IMAGE PRESENTED IN THE
INAUGURAL SPEECH, THE KIRCHNER TEAM SURPRISED ALL OBSERVERS
HERE BY ANNOUNCING OVER THE INAUGURAL WEEKEND A MASSIVE
OVERHAUL OF THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP. KIRCHNER'S DESIRE TO
PUT GEN. ROBERTO BENDINI, COMMANDER OF THE XI MECHANIZED
DIVISION IN RIO GALLEGOS, SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE (WHERE KIRCHNER
SERVED AS GOVERNOR FOR MORE THAN A DECADE),IN CHARGE OF THE
ARMY APPEARS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE SHAKEUP. DEFENSE
MINISTER JOSE PAMPURO, FOR HIS PART, PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT KIRCHNER WANTED A CLOSE CONFIDANT AS ARMY CHIEF. GIVEN
THAT BENDINI WAS 28TH ON THE ARMY LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION LIST,
HIS REPLACEMENT OF CURRENT ARMY HEAD RICARDO BRINZONI WOULD
HAVE MEANT, ACCORDING TO A STRICT INTERPRETATION OF MILITARY
PROMOTION NORMS, THE RETIREMENT OF 27 ARMY GENERALS (75
PERCENT OF THE TOTAL). PRESS REPORTS, HOWEVER, INDICATE THAT
BENDINI -- WHO WILL FORMALLY TAKE OVER THE ARMY LEADERSHIP
TODAY, MAY 28 -- WILL ASK EIGHT ARMY GENERALS FORMERLY AHEAD
OF HIM ON THE PROMOTION LIST TO REMAIN IN THE SERVICE, WHICH
WOULD MEAN THAT "ONLY" 19 ARMY GENERALS WOULD BE RETIRED. AT
THIS POINT, IT IS UNKNOWN IF KIRCHNER WILL ACCEPT THIS
PROPOSAL.


7. (U) THE OTHER SERVICES FACE SIMILAR RETIREMENTS BASED ON
KIRCHNER'S SELECTION OF JUNIOR FLAG OFFICERS TO BECOME
SERVICE CHIEFS (E.G., 13 NAVY ADMIRALS, OR 50 PERCENT OF THE
TOTAL, AND 12 AIR FORCE GENERALS, ALSO 50 PERCENT OF THE
TOTAL, WILL APPARENTLY BE FORCED INTO RETIREMENT.) ALL OF
THOSE RETIRING WILL BE REPLACED BY THOSE WITH PAST TIES TO
THE PROVINCE OF SANTA CRUZ AND KIRCHNER. ON MAY 30, JORGE
ALBERTO CHEVALLIER WILL TAKE OVER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT
CHIEFS, A POST CURRENTLY HELD BY JUAN CARLOS MUGNOLO. ON
JUNE 4, CARLOS ROHDE WILL TAKE CHARGE OF THE AIR FORCE,
REPLACING WALTER BARBERO. THE FOLLOWING DAY, JORGE GODOY
WILL REPLACE JOAQUIN STELLA AS THE HEAD OF THE NAVY.


8. (C) LOCAL MILITARY EXPERT ROSENDO FRAGA SUMMARIZED THE
WIDESPREAD SENTIMENT OVER THE UNEXPECTED MOVES, ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT KIRCHNER HAD THE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE
CHANGES, BUT ARGUING THAT THE PURGE DID NOT MAKE MUCH SENSE
FOR A NEW PRESIDENT TRYING TO ENSURE INSTITUTIONAL
CONTINUITY. IN GENERAL BRINZONI'S PARTING ADDRESS TO THE
ARMY ON MAY 28, HE AFFIRMED THE ARMY'S COMMITMENT TO
UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION AND ARGENTINE LAW, BUT ADMITTED,
"THIS DISMISSAL HURTS, NOT FOR PERSONAL REASONS, BUT RATHER,
FOR THE UNEXPLAINED CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING IT." THE MOST
IMPORTANT REASON FOR THE NEW APPOINTMENTS APPEARS TO BE
KIRCHNER'S DESIRE TO HAVE PEOPLE HE KNOWS WELL AND TRUSTS IN
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ARMED SERVICES. OTHER SPECULATION IS
THAT HE AND SOME OF HIS MORE LEFTIST LEANING ALLIES IN THE
NEW GOVERNMENT ARE USING THIS MASS DISMISSAL TO REMOVE ALL OF
THE MOST SENIOR MILITARY OFFICERS WHO POTENTIALLY HAVE ANY
INVOLVEMENT IN THE 1976-83 "PROCESO" PERIOD OF MILITARY
DICTATORSHIP. (COMMENT: LEFT-LEANING HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS HAVE
OFTEN ACCUSED MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR MILITARY LEADERSHIP OF
HAVING PLAYED ACTIVE ROLES IN "EL PROCESO" BUT WHEN PRESSED
TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE THEIR
ALLEGATIONS. IN ADDITION, ALL MILITARY PROMOTION LISTS ARE
SUBJECT TO STRICT CONGRESSIONAL SCRUTINY, WHICH PRESUMABLY
WOULD HAVE EXPOSED ANY CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING. END
COMMENT).

--------------
NEXT TARGET: THE SUPREME COURT
--------------


9. (C) THE NEW ADMINISTRATION'S ZEAL FOR CHANGE DOES NOT
END WITH THE ARMED FORCES, BUT APPARENTLY INCLUDES THE
SUPREME COURT AS WELL. KIRCHNER'S NEW MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
GUSTAVO BELIZ, SAID ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE THAT THE
SUPREME COURT SHOULD NOT ESCAPE "THE NECESSARY RENOVATION OF
ALL THE POWERS OF THE STATE." HE WAS QUICK TO ADD THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION WOULD STRICTLY ADHERE TO CONSTITUTIONAL
PROCEDURES IN THIS AREA. (OF COURSE, THE CONSTITUTIONALITY
OF IMPEACHING THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT HAS NOT BEEN THE
CENTRAL QUESTION OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, BUT RATHER, THE
ADVISABILITY OF SUCH AN EFFORT.) THE MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME
COURT FACED A DUHALDE-INSPIRED IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN THE
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES LAST YEAR, AN INSTITUTIONAL TIT-FOR-TAT
THAT CAUSED THE COURT TO RULE ON REPEATED OCCASIONS AGAINST
THE DUHALDE ADMINISTRATION'S ECONOMIC POLICIES. IN THE FACE
OF THOSE COURT DECISIONS, THE DUHALDE ADMINISTRATION
ULTIMATELY BACKED DOWN, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE KIRCHNER TEAM
IS NOW SIGNALING ITS WILLINGNESS TO DO BATTLE WITH THE COURT
AGAIN. IN FACT, AS NOTED IN REF B, KIRCHNER'S NEW
INTELLIGENCE CHIEF AND CONFIDANT SERGIO ACEVEDO PRESIDED OVER
THE IMPEACHMENT EFFORT AGAINST THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT
DURING THE DUHALDE ADMINISTRATION FROM HIS POST AS CHAIRMAN
OF THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. OF
THE NINE MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT, ONLY CHIEF JUSTICE
NAZARENO AND THE DUHALDE-APPOINTED JUSTICE JUAN CARLOS
MAQUEDA ATTENDED KIRCHNER'S INAUGURATION CEREMONY, A CLEAR
SIGN OF DISAPPROVAL BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT.


10. (U) THE FIRST TARGET REPORTEDLY WILL BE JUSTICE CARLOS
FAYT, WHO DID NOT RECUSE HIMSELF FROM PARTICIPATING IN A 2002
COURT DECISION THAT DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL THE GOA'S
"CORRALITO" BANK DEPOSIT RESTRICTIONS, DESPITE HOLDING A USD
200,000 DEPOSIT IN BANCO NACION THAT HE LATER EXCHANGED FOR
BODEN BONDS. THERE IS WIDESPREAD SPECULATION THAT THE LOWER
HOUSE COULD SEEK FAYT'S SUSPENSION AS EARLY AS THIS MONTH
WHILE PURSUING THE IMPEACHMENT CASE AGAINST HIM, ALTHOUGH
THERE IS SOME DEBATE OVER WHETHER THE AUTHORITY TO TEMPORARY
SUSPEND A JUDGE FACING IMPEACHMENT RESTS WITH THE SENATE OR
THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. IF THOSE DEPUTIES LOYAL TO THE
KIRCHNER ADMINISTRATION SUCCEED IN IMPEACHING FAYT, THEY
ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD SEEK TO DO THE SAME WITH THE MEMBERS
OF MENEM'S SO-CALLED "AUTOMATIC MAJORITY": JULIO NAZARENO,
ANTONIO BOGGIANO, GUSTAVO LOPEZ, ADOLFO VAZQUEZ, AND EDUARDO
MOLINE O'CONNOR.

--------------
CASTRO GRABS HEADLINES
--------------


11. (U) THE VISIT OF FIDEL CASTRO TO ARGENTINA FOR THE MAY
25 INAUGURATION CAPTURED WIDESPREAD MEDIA AND PUBLIC
ATTENTION, WITH THE OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SENTIMENT CLEARLY
FAVORABLY DISPOSED TO THE CUBAN LEADER. CASTRO'S VISIT
COMPLETELY OVERSHADOWED THOSE OF BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LULA AND
VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT CHAVEZ. THE TRIP WAS CASTRO'S THIRD
VISIT TO ARGENTINA, FOLLOWING EARLIER TRIPS IN 1959 (SHORTLY
AFTER THE REVOLUTION) AND 1995 (DURING THE MENEM
ADMINISTRATION TO ATTEND THE IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT IN
BARILOCHE). NEWSPAPERS CARRIED PHOTOS OF A BEAMING KIRCHNER
LAUGHING AND CONVERSING WITH CASTRO AND THE TWO HAD THE
LONGEST OF THE FORMER'S MEETINGS WITH VISITING HEADS OF
STATE. ON MONDAY MAY 26, CASTRO DELIVERED A TWO-HOUR-PLUS
SPEECH ON THE OUTSIDE STEPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BUENOS AIRES
LAW FACULTY BEFORE 5,000 ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS. AT ANOTHER
EVENT THE SAME DAY, BUENOS AIRES CITY MAYOR ANIBAL IBARRA
PINNED A MEDAL ON CASTRO'S CHEST AND DESCRIBED HIM AS "ONE OF
THE MOST RESPECTED MEN IN THE WORLD." THE FOLLOWING DAY, A
SPANISH DAILY PUBLISHED AN INTERVIEW WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
RAFAEL BIELSA, WHO SAID: "I DO NOT DARE TO SAY OPENLY THAT
HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED IN CUBA. I DO NOT HAVE THE
MORAL AUTHORITY, NOR A POST WHICH WOULD ALLOW ME TO SAY
SOMETHING SO SUPERFICIAL."

--------------
GOA SAYS KIRCHNER-BUSH TO MEET IN 90 DAYS
--------------


12. (U) NEWSPAPER HEADLINES ON MAY 27 TRUMPETED GOVERNMENT
DECLARATIONS THAT KIRCHNER WOULD VISIT WASHINGTON ON AN
OFFICIAL VISIT WITHIN 90 DAYS, FOLLOWING PUBLIC CONFIRMATION
BY THE FOREIGN MINISTER THAT PRESIDENT BUSH, IN HIS MAY 23
PHONE CONVERSATION WITH KIRCHNER, HAD INVITED THE NEW
PRESIDENT TO VISIT WASHINGTON. IN A CONFUSED STATEMENT ON
MAY 26, FOREIGN MINISTER BIELSA, EXPLAINED THAT KIRCHNER WAS
TRAVELING TO WASHINGTON BECAUSE "ARGENTINA HAD TO DISCUSS
ISSUES THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT, SUCH AS IN THE DISPUTE
RESOLUTION ORGANIZATION THAT THE WORLD BANK HAS, AND IN THE
MULTILATERAL CREDIT ORGANIZATIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND. THERE, THE VOICE OF THE UNITED STATES IS VERY
IMPORTANT." THESE GOA DECLARATIONS CAME ABOUT DESPITE THE
FACT THAT A SPECIFIC TIMETABLE FOR A KIRCHNER VISIT TO
WASHINGTON WAS NOT BROACHED IN SECRETARY MARTINEZ'S OFFICIAL
MEETINGS WITH KIRCHNER.


13. (U) IN OTHER NEWS OF IMMEDIATE BILATERAL INTEREST, JOS
OCTAVIO BORDN WAS TAPPED BY THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION AS
ARGENTINA'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES. THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE WELL-RESPECTED BORDN -- THE 1995
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND LATER, FREPASO LEADER -- IS A
POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT, DESPITE THE FACT THAT BORDN DOES NOT
HAVE A PARTICULARLY STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH KIRCHNER. OTHER
SIGNIFICANT APPOINTMENTS INCLUDE JUAN PABLO LOHLE AS THE NEW
AMBASSADOR TO BRASILIA AND JORGE VAZQUEZ AS THE NEW
AMBASSADOR TO THE OAS AND JORGE TAIANA AS THE NEW MFA UNDER
SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS (REPLACING FERNANDO
PETRELLA).


DRUCKER