MOLINA INCIDENT CREATES TURMOIL WITHIN ARGENTINE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 003489

SIPDIS

NSC FOR TOM SHANNON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2014
TAGS: PHUM PREL AR CU MOLINA
SUBJECT: MOLINA INCIDENT CREATES TURMOIL WITHIN ARGENTINE
MFA

REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 3406

B. BUENOS AIRES 3364

C. BUENOS AIRES 1903

Classified By: Ambassador Lino Gutierrez for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Following the Molina incident at the Argentine
embassy in Havana on December 16, Chief of Cabinet Alberto
Fernandez told reporters on Friday that a "clarification"
would be made later in the day regarding the status of the
Argentine ambassador to Cuba, Raul Taleb, and the MFA chief
of cabinet, Eduardo Valdes, following reports that both would
be asked to resign for allegedly mishandling the Molina
affair. (Indeed, the pro-Kirchner Pagina 12 was already
referring to Valdes as the "ex-chief of cabinet.") The
Fernandez press conference follows stories in all the major
dailies reporting on President Kirchner's fury at the bungled
attempt to secure permission from the Cuban government for
Molina to travel to Argentina.


2. (C) Castro's continued refusal to allow Molina and her
mother to travel to Argentina (reftels) continues to
complicate Kirchner's policy of "constructive engagement"
with the Castro regime and has now caused a rift between the
Casa Rosada and members of its Foreign Ministry team. One of
the Foreign Minister's senior advisors, Ambassador Fernando
Petrella, confirmed to the DCM on Friday that Kirchner is
very upset with the way the MFA has handled the entire Molina
affair in general (including the embassy incident) and, in
particular, with the Foreign Ministry making public his
personal and emotional letter to Castro requesting permission
for Molina and her mother to travel to Argentina for
Christmas. Castro's public rejection of that request did not
reflect well on Kirchner's prestige. Petrella said that
Kirchner was also upset with Bielsa's statements regarding
Molina while in Washington to meet with the Secretary.


3. (C) Comment: While we have no confirmation at this time
that Valdes and Taleb are out, if heads are to roll, they are
convenient scapegoats. Reports that Bielsa's job is also in
jeopardy are likely premature. Already an outsider to
Kirchner's tight inner circle, Bielsa's position has no doubt
been further eroded. In his favor, however, is the fact that
Kirchner has no ready replacement for Bielsa and would likely
be very reluctant to make such a change on the eve of
Argentina assuming the presidency of the UN Security Council
in January. Kirchner's anger and embarrassment over the
handling of the Molina case, while publicly directed at his
own foreign affairs team, is ultimately a stinging reminder
of the pitfalls of "constructive engagement" with the Castro
regime.
GUTIERREZ