MEDIA REACTION US TROOPS TO MEXICAN BORDER EU-

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001102

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 US TROOPS TO MEXICAN BORDER EU-
LATIN AMERICAN SUMMIT ARGENTINE DEPUTY KUNKEL
REJECTING STATEMENTS BY NOMINEE FOR US AMBASSADOR TO
BUENOS AIRES WAYNE US VIEW OF LATIN AMERICAN DIVISION
US-URUGUAYAN FTA ARGENTINE PRESIDENT KIRCHNER USG
CONCERN OVER THE TRI-BORDER 05/15/06;BUENOS AIRES


1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Weekend stories include the US Pentagon drawing up
plans for troops on the Mexican border; European and
Latin American leaders' pledge to bolster ties in "bi-
regional strategic relationship;" Argentine deputy
Carlos Kunkel rejecting the statements of nominee for
US ambassador to Buenos Aires, Anthony Wayne; the US
view of Latin American division; a possible US-
Uruguayan trade deal; Argentina's plan for Haiti;
Argentine President Kirchner's style; the likelihood
of an oil re-nationalization in Argentina; and the USG
concern over the Tri-Border.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "The US could send 5,000 troops to the Mexican
border"

Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (05/13) "According
to the US Department of Defense, the US Pentagon could
deploy more than 5,000 troops and military equipment
to the US-Mexican border to help reduce the entry of
hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants per year.

"More than 12 million undocumented immigrants live in
the US, most of whom come from Mexico and the rest of
Latin America. However, the Departments of Homeland
Security and Defense fear that the border could be
porous enough to let terrorists enter. The US Defense
Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, and his Mexican

SIPDIS
counterpart, General Clemente Vega, have already
discussed some of the problems observed on the border,
which is over 3,200 kilometer long."

- "Kunkel against the US ambassador"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (05/13) "National
deputy Carlos Kunkel rejected the statements of the
future US ambassador to Buenos Aires, Earl Wayne, on
the alleged lack of judicial security for foreign
investment in Argentina. Kunkel said 'An Argentine
Ambassador would never go to the US to say what
domestic policy the US should have.'

"... The Kirchner deputy went further when he said
that the future US ambassador 'is coming to our
country as though he was a viceroy trying to tell us
what we should do - returning to the '90s with the
same prescriptions of the Washington consensus.'

"... In spite of his criticism, Kunkel highlighted the
'good ties' between the (Argentine) Government and the
US, and he added that he expected Michael Matera... to
inform the future ambassador that 'we respect the
sovereignty of all countries.'"

- "How the US sees divisions in Latin America"

Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (05/14) " USG
officials prefer to keep their most conclusive
opinions on Latin America to themselves. They know
that whatever they say may feed hemispheric division,
and the White House has also been the recurrent target
of Hugo Chavez's tough statements.

"US Assistant Secretary for Latin American Affairs Tom
Shannon maintained his low profile as regional
disputes were more and more acute during latest weeks.
However, the US Department of State maintained and
reiterated its stance that Argentina and Brazil should
play 'a more active role' with presidents Evo Morales
and Hugo Chavez.

"The future Ambassador to Buenos Aires, Earl Anthony
Wayne, has said that the two most powerful countries
in the Southern Cone are 'very committed to
democracy,' and that this is a strong basis for the
promotion of stability in the hemisphere.

"For his part, former Assistant Secretary of State for





Latin America, Otto Reich, said that 'it is
interesting to see how the rational and democratic
left wing is differentiating itself from the radical
and violent left wing.'

"... Peter De Shazo, also former USG official in
charge of Latin America at the US State Department,
agrees with Reich. 'What happens in Bolivia during the
next weeks will be very important for the country and
for its ties with Brazil, Argentina and Spain, which
has huge investment initiatives in Bolivia.'"

- "Europe and the US benefit from Latin American
fights"

Horacio Riggi, columnist of business-financial, center-
right "InfoBae," writes (05/15) "The exhibition of
(Latin American) bilateral conflicts, (like that
between Argentina and Uruguay over the paper mills or
the one between Bolivia and Brazil due to the
nationalization of hydrocarbons) highlight the
weakness of South American integration as compared
with that of the EU.

"This seems normal except if one takes into account
that in these times of globalization future FTAs are
at stake all over the world, and this will call for a
common discourse when the time comes to negotiate as a
bloc.

"... What was floating in Vienna is that while South
American countries are confronting each other, the G7
countries are continuing their game. In fact, the
summit was a follow-up of WTO negotiations...

"The summit was 'crowded' with Mexican businessmen,
who are key allies of the US when the time comes to
defend the alleged benefits of an FTA for the region."

- "Proposal to Uruguay - the US and Mercosur"

Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" (05/15)
"Uruguay could sign a trade deal (as long as it is not
a free exchange of goods and services) with the US,
which could enable it to increase its exports and stay
within Mercosur. In this way, the Vazquez
administration could be able to make progress on its
relationship with the US without affecting its status
within Mercosur.

"This proposal will be submitted by Argentine and
Brazilian negotiators to Uruguayan government
officials during the meetings that have been held in
Buenos Aires since May. Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana
is attempting to separate the paper mill conflict from
Mercosur negotiations with a clear purpose - to
prevent the July 8-9 presidential summit in Argentina
from failing. Tabare Vazquez's attendance is not
guaranteed and if he fails to attend it would be the
first time a head of State would be missing."

- "Kirchner sees an axis with Brazil and Venezuela"

Alejandro Di Lazzaro, on special assignment in Vienna
for daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (05/14) "...
Nestor Kirchner believes that Argentina, Brazil and
Venezuela will be the main partners of Mercosur.

"Economic strength and foreign governments' confidence
will be the main pillars. Kirchner is building on the
recognition of Argentina's economic recovery he
received from European leaders, the deployment and
variety of Brazilian production, and the impetus oil
gives to the Venezuelan economy.

"According to him, Bolivia is not reliable yet, and he
is not taking Uruguay into account. Chile has to enter
the gas negotiation."

- "Argentina is preparing a plan for Haiti, the
poorest country in America"

Nicolas Lantos, columnist of centrist "Perfil"





newspaper, writes (05/14) "... In order to carry out
his administration, Preval asked the presidents of
Argentina, Chile and Brazil to prepare a plan of
government. According to Foreign Ministry sources, the
Argentine role would be to adapt to Haiti those
social policies implemented here after the 2001
crisis.

"This plan plus a rapprochement to Cuba and Venezuela
would be the base on which Preval will attempt to
build his power."

- "Kirchner's challenges to foreign leaders"

Joaquin Morales Sola, political analyst of daily-of-
record "La Nacion," opines (05/14) "... Kirchner's
style and some latest measures of his administration
have meant a noticeable slump in Argentina's
international standing. The crisis with Uruguay broke
unexpectedly in Europe. Javier Solana, who is in
charge of the EU's foreign relations, warned Mercosur
that it will be lost if it does not put aside its
clashes.

"... Kirchner challenges businessmen and investors,
does not honor the promises he makes to them, and, on
top of everything, he portrays them as looters of
national wealth. As a result, investors leave or do
not come, whether he likes it or not.

"And a problem of the Argentine president, and not a
minor one, is that his name is too often associated
with Chavez and Evo all over the world."


3. EDITORIALS

- "Evo Peron?"

An editorial in liberal, English-language "Buenos
Aires Herald" reads (05/15) "Nothing is official
yet... but there seems every reason to expect Kirchner
to be following in Juan Domingo Peron's footsteps,
renationalizing oil just as Peron renationalized the
railways. The political reasons for such a move are
obvious... but if it takes two to tango, the current
Spanish Repsol owners of YPF seem only too willing to
make up a pair. The Spaniards are anxious to reduce
their exposure to Argentine risk and the merciless
export duties but they would find it extremely
difficult to find a commercial buyer because 'buying
dear to sell cheap' runs against the most basic
business principles and that is what any private-
sector purchaser would effectively be doing - paying a
fortune on the basis of today's sky-high oil prices
only to sell fuel at Argentina's politicized prices...

"If indeed Kirchner makes his spectacular
announcement, the next question would then be what the
state intends to do with its new toy. After taking
control either directly or indirectly of the
privatized utilities, the state has shown a sudden
interest in raising gas, power and other utility rates
- would there be a similar U-turn with the politicized
petrol and fuel prices in order to secure a return on
investment?"

- "Tri-Border, a concern"

An editorial in conservative "La Prensa" reads (05/13)
"During an address to the US Lower House International
Relations Committee..., the coordinator of Affairs
against Terrorism at the US Department of State, Henry

A. Crumpton, clearly highlighted increasing US concern
over the so-called Tri-Border...

"... The contentious Tri-Border case may contribute to
creating an agreed upon security policy among the
different Mercosur partners. Delays or weaknesses in
implementing security measures can only contribute to
increasing the potential danger posed by the lack of
control in the area and protecting serious crimes
against humanity."





- "The Southern Cone is divided at the Vienna Summit"

An editorial in leading "Clarin" reads (05/14) "The
Southern Cone's environmental and energy issues
unexpectedly invaded the Vienna summit agenda, thereby
postponing the treatment of crucial issues in inter-
continental ties.

"... The Argentine-Uruguayan dispute over the paper
mills and the conflict between Brazil and Bolivia over
the nationalization of hydrocarbons have made everyone
disregard what should have been the main topic of the
summit: the EU not honoring its promise to lower farm
subsidies."

- "Little progress in Vienna"

Conservative "La Prensa" carries an editorial (05/14)
"During the EU-Latin American summit, Latin American
divisions... and the EU going through an identity
crisis made obvious the need for finding alternatives
to the restrictive policies marked by regional
alignment and alliances.

"... What was highlighted at the summit is that no
European country wants to renounce protectionism...
The main topics of the summit conclusions were the
need for reinforcing democracy, human rights and
multilateralism, and deals of association, energy and
education.

"Vienna deepened regional confrontations and left open
questions about what the future relationship between
Mercosur and the EU will be like."

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

GUTIERREZ