Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BUENOSAIRES223
2005-02-02 11:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

VICE PRESIDENT SCIOLI OUTLINES THEMES FOR MEETING

Tags:  PGOV PREL AR 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUENOS AIRES 000223 

SIPDIS

WHA FOR A/S ROGER NORIEGA AND PDAS JIM DERHAM
NSC FOR TOM SHANNON
VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE FOR HEATHER VIEIRA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL AR
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT SCIOLI OUTLINES THEMES FOR MEETING
WITH VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY; SEEKS INCREASED COOPERATION
WITH U.S.

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUENOS AIRES 000223

SIPDIS

WHA FOR A/S ROGER NORIEGA AND PDAS JIM DERHAM
NSC FOR TOM SHANNON
VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE FOR HEATHER VIEIRA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL AR
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT SCIOLI OUTLINES THEMES FOR MEETING
WITH VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY; SEEKS INCREASED COOPERATION
WITH U.S.

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


1. (C) Summary: In a February 1 meeting with the Ambassador,
Argentine Vice President Scioli reviewed some of the themes
and concerns he hopes to raise in his meeting next week with
Vice President Cheney. Scioli said the meeting would present
an opportunity to further develop the bilateral agenda
between the two countries and to emphasize the current
cooperative relationship, notably in counterterrorism and
counternarcotics efforts. Noting that perceptions in the
U.S. of Argentina have a great impact on events here, Scioli
expressed the desire for increased cultural, economic and
political interchange. Scioli pointed out the strategic
importance of Argentina in hemispheric affairs, referring to
GOA efforts to support constitutional democracy in Bolivia
and peacekeeping in Haiti. He expressed appreciation for
past U.S. support with the IMF as well as the hope that such
support would continue. He said the GOA was committed to a
successful Summit of the Americas and hoped that President
Bush would be able to attend.


2. (C) The Ambassador told Scioli that we were pleased with
the direction of our bilateral agenda and particularly
appreciative of the high level of cooperation on
counterterrorism issues. Regarding issues that needed to be
addressed, the Ambassador raised the need to conclude an
Article 98 agreement, concerns regarding the GOA's relations
with Cuba and the need for fair treatment for U.S. investors.
In light of the current visit of President Chavez to
Argentina, the Ambassador also took the opportunity to repeat
to Scioli our concerns about events in Venezuela. End
Summary.


3. (C) Argentine Vice President Daniel Scioli, accompanied by
his chief of staff Ricardo Lagorio, met with the Ambassador
in the Embassy to discuss his upcoming meeting on February 7
with Vice President Dick Cheney. Scioli had requested the
meeting to outline the topics and themes he wanted to cover
in the meeting and to receive feedback from the Ambassador on

the current state of U.S.- Argentine relations.


4. (C) Scioli remarked that he looked forward to his meeting
with VP Cheney as an opportunity to further expand on our
bilateral agenda. He said the main focus of his comments
would be to underscore to VP Cheney the current economic and
political stability of Argentina and the reliability of the
GOA as a strategic partner to the U.S. in hemispheric
affairs. He pointed out, in particular, the importance the
GOA places on close cooperation in counterterrorism and
counternarcotics matters.


5. (C) More broadly, Scioli said the GOA wanted to cooperate
with the U.S. on a wide range of economic, political and
defense issues. He pointed out the supportive role the GOA
had played in promoting constitutional government in Bolivia,
its military commitment to the peacekeeping mission in Haiti
and its efforts to support democracy and human rights in
Venezuela. He noted that U.S. and Argentine objectives
coincided in these countries and that GOA efforts, therefore,
helped advance U.S. strategic interests. He said that
Argentina had traditionally looked to Europe for inspiration,
but he believed that closer relations with the U.S. provided
a more appropriate model for Argentina's future development.
Scioli believed the way to achieve this was through increased
investment and business ties, tourism and student exchanges.
He said that perceptions in the U.S. about Argentina had a
great impact on events here during the 2001-02 economic and
political crisis. He expressed appreciation for U.S. support
with international financial institutions and noted the need
for Argentina to maintain growth to help the country recover
economic prosperity. Regarding the ongoing effort to
restructure its public debt in default, Scioli said the
current offer was the best deal Argentina could support and
that the GOA hoped for a broad acceptance of the offer.


6. (C) Scioli raised the status of the FTAA, stating that as
more countries came to individual or regional free-trade
agreements with the U.S., they might be less interested in a
hemisphere-wide trade agreement. He opined that the U.S.
might be more interested in a trade pact with Mercosur. The
Ambassador assured Scioli that the FTAA was still a U.S.
priority and pointed out that Brazil's trade interests would
not always be the same as Argentina's.


7. (C) On a more personal level, Scioli drew parallels
between his own career and that of VP Cheney. He noted they
both had been successful businessmen as well as
representatives before being elected as vice presidents.
Scioli is very interested in his role as head of the
Argentine Senate and has proposed modernization measures
(e.g. electronic voting, live television coverage) based in
part on how the U.S. Senate is run. (Note: According to
staff members, Scioli has proposed this commonality might be
a means of strengthening bilateral ties. End Note.)


8. (C) The Ambassador told Scioli that we were, in general,
pleased with the direction of our bilateral relationship. He
noted in particular our appreciation for the high level of
cooperation and assistance provided by the GOA on
counterterrorism issues and underscored the importance of
Argentina's role in promoting stability and democracy in the
hemisphere. He also congratulated the GOA for its successful
chairmanship of the United Nations Security Council during
January. When asked by Scioli what areas VP Cheney might
raise that still need attention, the Ambassador suggested
that reaching an consensus on an Article 98 agreement -- thus
allowing the two countries to increase military to military
cooperation through joint exercises -- was of high priority.
Another area of potential concern was the GOA's relationship
with Cuba in light of the egregious violation of human rights
by the Castro regime. On the commercial side, the Ambassador
noted VP Cheney might mention the need for fair treatment for
U.S. investors in such areas as electricity and utilities.


9. (C) Taking note of the fact that President Chavez was
currently in Buenos Aires (on what the Casa Rosada was
downplaying as a "commercial" visit),the Ambassador also
took the opportunity to repeat to Scioli our serious concerns
with recent events in Venezuela. The Ambassador noted the
influence President Kirchner had been able to exert over
Chavez in the past and urged the GOA to follow through on
these issues with Chavez during his visit. Scioli lamented
that Chavez believed his victory in last year's recall
referendum now gave him the right to do whatever he pleased.


10. (C) Finally, Scioli noted the GOA's commitment for a
successful Summit of the Americas, which Argentina will host
in November. He said the GOA is very hopeful that President
Bush will be able to attend.


11. (U) To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a>

GUTIERREZ