CHARGE MEETING WITH VICE MOD VASQUEZ OCAMPO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001733

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016
TAGS: MOPS PREL OAS HA AR
SUBJECT: CHARGE MEETING WITH VICE MOD VASQUEZ OCAMPO

REF: A. BA 1665

B. BA 120

C. 05 BA 3145

Classified By: Charge d' affaires Michael Matera for
reasons 1.4(a) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In an August 1 meeting with CDA Matera,
Mil Group Commander, A/DATT and PolOff, Vice Minister of
Defense (Vice-MOD) Vasquez Ocampo stated his satisfaction
with the state of bilateral mil/mil relations, including
continued cooperation, the Bilateral Working Group, training
and exercises, and peace keeping activities. Vasquez Ocampo
reiterated the strong GOA commitment to continued
participation in the MINUSTAH peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
He underlined the principled GOA approach to the
modernization and reform of the Armed Forces, and the GOA's
pursuit of justice for crimes committed by the security
forces during the "dirty war." End Summary.


2. (U) On August 1, CDA, along with MilGrp Commander, Acting
DATT and PolOff, paid a courtesy call on MOD Vice Minister
Jose Maria Vasquez Ocampo. Vasquez Ocampo's official title
is Secretary for Military Affairs. He was joined in the
meeting by Dr. Leonardo Hekimian, Director General for
Policy, advisor Andrea Chiappini, and International Relations
Advisor Carlos Moneta. Vice Minister Oscar Cuattromo,
Secretary for Planning joined the meeting in progress.

SIPDIS

Mil-Mil Relations and Cooperation Program
--------------

3. (C) Vasquez Ocampo stated that he had enjoyed a
"transparent and frank" dialogue with former Ambassador
Gutierrez and CDA's predecessor Hugo Llorens, and hoped to
continue the same with the new Embassy leadership. CDA
echoed this sentiment and assured the Vice-MOD that the USG
valued its excellent relations with the Argentine MOD and
Armed Forces. MilGrp Commander noted that his office was
working with an MOD team on defining and advancing the areas
of cooperation for 2007 that Minister Garre, Vasquez Ocampo
and Cuattromo had highlighted as priorities, i.e.:
transformation and restructuring of the armed forces;
strengthening jointness in the armed forces; strategic
decision making; and defense resource management. The issue
of exercises was raised, with Vasquez Ocampo noting our
differences over immunities, but expressed his support for
continued Argentine participation in regional exercises. He
indicated that the GOA had already submitted its list of
proposed exercises to the Legislature, including UNITAS.

Human Rights and the Armed Forces Doctrine
--------------

4. (C) Without prompting, Vasquez Ocampo offered some
thoughts on human rights and the military. He said there had
been a reluctant advance in this area in the military and
stated that the MOD was still looking at Southcom's human
rights program. He added that the Kirchner administration's
focus on readdressing the "dirty war" was not a vendetta nor
retaliation and said that, without justice, there is
impunity, something that has existed in Argentina for too
long. He said that what was needed was a re-establishment of
values based on Argentine law and international human rights
conventions.


5. (C) He noted that Argentina enjoys secure borders and,
apart from some minor differences, good relations with its
neighbors. The two primary areas at the moment where
military policy is linked to regional policy are Haiti and
Bolivia. The interest in both is for security/stability and
peace. He noted the importance of the ongoing modernization
and reform of the Armed Forces and the current rewriting of
the defense "white paper," a top-to-bottom review of the
Armed Forces' mission, force structure, doctrine, etc.

Haiti Peace Keeping and Lebanon
--------------

6. (C) Vasquez Ocampo continued, noting that U.S.-Argentine
relations/cooperation on Haiti were excellent. In reference
to some local criticism voiced at the recent "People's
Summit," held on the margins of the July 20-21 MERCOSUR
Summit (ref.A) in regard to foreign troop presence in Haiti,
Vasquez Ocampo stated that he believed the troop presence to
be positive and not at all interventionist in the negative
sense. He said it was essential that work proceed on a new
governance plan in Haiti and that the GOA had already sent to
the legislature its proposal for renewing the Argentine
MINUSTAH contingent. He also said that the GOA is
contemplating a beefed up police (Gendarmeria) participation
in its Haiti contingent. Vasquez Ocampo noted that the MOD
and MFA on August 4 were hosting the next Haiti troop
contribution meeting of the seven most important contributing
countries. CDA noted the pending UN meeting on troop
contributions for the proposed International Force to be
deployed in Southern Lebanon and asked the Vice-MOD's
thoughts on the subject. The Vice-MOD didn't comment
specifically on a possible troop commitment but did note
Argentina's long peacekeeping history in the region, in
Cyprus since 1993, and previously on the Iraq/Kuwait border.

BWG
---

7. (U) Vice-MOD Vasquez Ocampo noted the upcoming Defense
Ministerial of the Americas in Managua, October 1-5, and,
when asked, said that the date for the Bilateral Working
Group meeting had not been set yet but that it would likely
take place sometime after the Managua Ministerial meeting.
He noted that Minister Garre would make a decision in the
next few days.


8. (U) CDA, noted the standing invitation to Minister Garre
from General Looney, Commander of A.F. Education and Training
Command, to visit the A.F. Academy. Vasquez Ocampo stated
that the Minister was not planning any extended visits
outside the country this year, wanting to focus on the major
revision of the Argentine Armed Forces' mission and roles.
CDA, A/DATT and MilGrp Commander also extended an invitation
to the Vice-MOD to visit Washington and Southcom. Vasquez
Ocampo said he was very interested and that he thought it
would be good for both him and Vice-MOD Cuattromo to visit
the U.S., however, not this year. CDA noted that January may
be a good time to contemplate such a visit.


9. (C) Comment: This was a good first meeting with Vasquez
Ocampo and Cuattromo with a solid, if not enthusiastic,
endorsement of the bilateral mil-mil relationship. Vasquez
Ocampo revealed early on his particular fixation with
perceived human rights failings of past governments, but did
not belabor the issue. (Note: his sister was "disappeared"
during the "dirty war," and his mother was a founding member
and is the current president of the "Madres de Plaza de Mayo
- Linea Fundadora", a moderate advocacy group not to be
confused with the Madres group led by the rabid Hebe de
Bonafini. End Note.) He also is showing a greater coherence
in his portrayal of the GOA's vision for a "transformed"
Armed Forces.
MATERA