Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES1050
2006-05-09 20:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION IRAN MERCOSUR LATIN AMERICAN

Tags:  KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0018
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1050/01 1292008
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 092008Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4460
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001050 

SIPDIS

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 MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION IRAN MERCOSUR LATIN AMERICAN
CHAIR AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL 05/09/06;BUENOS AIRES

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001050

SIPDIS

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 MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION IRAN MERCOSUR LATIN AMERICAN
CHAIR AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL 05/09/06;BUENOS AIRES


1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's local papers lead with Iran attempting to
approach the US; China warning about triggering a war
like that of Iraq; the implications of Bolivia's
nationalization of the energy sector; the crisis of
Mercosur; and the Latin American chair at the UN
Security Council.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "Iran attempts an approach to the US"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (05/09) "Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote a letter to his US
counterpart, George W. Bush, in which he proposed 'new
ways' to solve the mounting tension between the two
countries. This is an unprecedented gesture in almost
30 years that coincides with the strong international
pressure for Tehran to stop its nuclear activities.

"The letter... represents an amazing change in the
Islamic regime's strategy after months of harsh spats
between Ahmadinejad and Washington or its allies.
Iranian government officials even spoke of a 'new
diplomatic opening' between the two countries.

"However, the White House downplayed the letter and
interpreted Ahmadinejad's gesture as a strategy
intended to influence negotiations at the UN Security
Council now that Washington is promoting a tough
resolution against Tehran, which will allow for the
implementation of economic sanctions and even the use
of force."

- "China warns of the danger of a war like that in
Iraq"

Alberto Armendariz, New York-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (05/09) "Amid
tense meetings at the UN Security Council, China
warned yesterday that a new resolution condemning Iran
could lead to a war, like that in Iraq, and urged
European countries to refrain from threatening Tehran
with sanctions or a military action if it does not
suspend its nuclear program.

"... Beijing's position is supported by Russia, which
believes that the level of pressure is unacceptable
and it could lead not only to mounting tension but
also to a crisis that could affect oil international
prices."

- "Bolivian history on repeat"

James Scott, contributor to the Buenos Aires Herald,

writes (05/09) "If Bolivia's decision to nationalize
the energy sector last week... sounds familiar, it is
because it is not the first time the country has done
it.

"Bolivia seized Standard Oil's assets in 1937... and
three decades later Bolivia did the same with Gulf
Oil. In both cases, the effects proved disappointing
at best and eventually the market reopened to private
sector investment.

"... History, as they say, is doomed to repeat itself.
And experts point out that Bolivia appears to be the
next stage where this potential economic Waterloo will
play out.

"While nationalizing the energy sector may produce a
short term financial shot in the arm for the Andean
nation of about nine million, the move is likely to
throw the brakes on most future investments."

- "Left wing vs. left wing, a confrontation dividing
the region"

Andres Oppenheimer, columnist of daily-of-record "La
Nacion," writes (05/09) "Contrarily to the well-spread
belief that there is a leftist tsunami in Latin
America against Washington and free market, what we
witness in the region is a very different kind of
confrontation - the left wing vs. the left wing.

"... The most ironic thing of Chavez's diatribes
against Peru, Colombia and other countries of the
region for having signed FTAs with the 'empire' is
that Venezuela itself is increasing its trade with the
US to unprecedented numbers."

- "The embarrassment diplomacy"

Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by Juan
Gabriel Tokatlian, professor of international
relations at Universidad de San Andres, who writes
(05/09) "The ghost of a new Latin American political
embarrassment is looming at the UN corridors.

"The dispute between Guatemala and Venezuela for a
rotary chair at the UN Security Council in 2007 could
spark one of the most lamentable experiences in Latin
American diplomatic history at the UN.

"... In 1979, Colombia's candidacy was boosted by the
US in order to hinder Cuba's obtaining a chair at the
UN Security Council. Colombia, a strong ally of
Washington during the Turbay Ayala administration,
agreed to obstruct Cuba's aspirations.

"... Now that President Hugo Chavez is attempting to
project his 'Bolivarian' leadership in Latin America
and use the leverage given to him by oil prices in
order to increase his influence in world politics,
obtaining chair at the UN Security Council could
provide Venezuela with a visible place to criticize
and denounce the US.

"Now Washington, which has recreated a sort of renewed
ideological Cold War in its ties with Caracas, is
against Venezuela's aspiration to get a chair at the
UN Security Council and the Bush administration itself
has deployed an active diplomacy in this regard.

"In this framework, the (so-called) Group of Latin
American and Caribbean Countries seems paralyzed. In a
sort of mounting tension story, the region is again
letting the US dictate its regional representation
policy at the UN Security Council.

"Regardless of the US purposes and interests in this
issue, it is fundamental to avoid the lamentable
episode of 1979."


3. EDITORIALS

- "Mercosur is at a crossroads"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" editorializes (05/09) "The
conflict between Argentina and Uruguay due to the
establishment of two paper mills in Fray Bentos has
revealed the depth of the crisis Mercosur is going
through. Weakened by the gradual imposition of trade
barriers among its members instead their removal,
Mercosur has entered a phase of uncertainty.

"... The fact that Uruguay has started to hold
discussions with the US to reach an FTA is another
conclusive sign of the difficulties Mercosur is going
through. Uruguay currently exports more products to
the US than to Argentina and Brazil, and it is
attempting to adopt a new model of development model
aimed at achieving sustainable growth and honor its
public debt commitments.

"... A hypothetical departure of Uruguay from Mercosur
would not damage the bloc economically but from a
political point of view."

- "Shock in the Southern Cone"

An editorial in conservative "La Prensa" reads (05/09)
"The South American panorama is disturbing due to a
number of conflicts that have added themselves in the
region, which weaken its possibilities of development.
The Bolivian president's announced nationalization of
hydrocarbons was the climax of a conflictive regional
horizon...

"The strong influence of the Venezuelan government in
regional issues has unleashed a serious crisis in
Mercosur and the Andean Community (of Nations)...


"Brazil has even stated its concern about an eventual
'cold war' promoted by Caracas in South America."

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires GUTIERREZ