US-IRAN; VISIT OF CARLOS VALDERRAMA, EXPERT ON INVESTMENT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002001

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WH, 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: US-IRAN; VISIT OF CARLOS VALDERRAMA, EXPERT ON INVESTMENT
STRATEGIES, TO ARGENTINA; ARGENTINA-VENEZUELA 09/01/06; BUENOS
AIRES



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's leading international stories include Iranian President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad disregarding UN ultimatum and maintaining he will
further his nuclear plans; US President Bush's reaction to Iran's
challenging response; and Argentine First Lady Cristina Kirchner's
praising statements of Argentine-Venezuelan integration.

Conservative "La Prensa", business-financials "Ambito Financiero,"
"El Cronista," and "InfoBae" report on the visit of US expert Carlos
Valderrama, expert on investment strategies, to Argentina.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "The US seeks to speed up sanctions on Iran"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (09/01) "In his toughest speech
against Iran, US President George W. Bush warned that Iran will have
to pay the consequences for having challenged the world with its
nuclear program.

"Bush said 'Iran should face consequences for its challenge. We
cannot let it manufacture nuclear weapons.' Bush suggested the need
for imposing sanctions for Tehran's lack of compliance with UN
Security Council Resolution 1696. In the same sense, the
spokesperson of the US Department of State, Sean McCormack, said
that the US wishes the UN Security Council to take measures 'in a
very short term.'

"... Bush featured the Iranian government as a regime that is
determined to obtain the nuclear bomb and that supports Hezbollah in
Lebanon and the insurgency in Iraq...

"The US President did not go into detail regarding what the
'consequences' would be for Iran's lack of compliance, and he never
mentioned any military action, but he pointed out that the US will
continue seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict. However,
some of the measures considered by diplomats to punish Tehran
include banning Iranian leaders' international trips and restricting
Iran's access to the world financial market."

- "Mirrors"

Marcelo Cantelmi, international editor of leading "Clarin," writes
(09/01) "According to some macabre joke, one day we will find out
that George W. Bush and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were secret allies. This
is why all the wars launched by the White House against its elusive
terrorist enemies have done nothing but strengthen Tehran, which has
become a crucial regional power and owner of the initiative.

"The two of them have a fundamentalist nature, explosive speeches
and urgency to strengthen their domestic support. This is why,
yesterday Bush took his counterpart's challenge to start his
campaign for crucial November legislative elections by stirring the
ghost of an enemy... He needs to draw a gigantic enemy, which is as
big as the election abyss that seems to be waiting for him. Iran
will surely give him a hand in doing so."

- "A limited political strategy that has not put a brake on Tehran"

Claudio Mario Alilscioni, columnist of leading "Clarin," writes
(09/01) "The Iranian refusal to stop its nuclear program is not
surprising. The really astonishing thing, instead, is the way the US
has attempted to dismantle said plan.

"... Iran has managed to push deadlines to the limit and it is on
the verge of placing Washington in the uncomfortable place of
impotence.

"... While the White House's strategy is stating that it bets on
diplomacy, several signs indicate the opposite direction. Shortly
ago, the US media reported that the White House took Lebanon as an
advance of a possible attack on Iran...

"... Certainly, no one dismisses a violent change in the current
direction of things, only some months away from November legislative
elections and now that George W. Bush's image is today at a low
point. Only a few in Washington bet on a direct dialogue with
Tehran."

- "California will plead for Argentine preferences"

Conservative "La Prensa" reports (09/01) "According to Carlos
Valderrama, a US expert in investment strategies for municipalities
and a member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Board, who was
invited by the US Embassy to come to Buenos Aires, the eventual GSP


review not only worries Argentina, but also some US districts, which
will attempt to prevent the White House from performing said
review.

"Valderrama said 'it would not be a good idea that the USG changes
the GSP for any country.' Valderrama acknowledged that Californian
businessmen will attempt to 'influence' the Capitol Hill's decision
in the event GSP preferential tariffs are removed for Argentina...

"... 'I believe that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger does not agree
with this.'

"As a member of the California Chamber of Commerce International
Committee, Valderrama acknowledged that one of the purposes of his
trip is to bolster greater commercial exchange between Argentina and
the US Western coast."

- "California seeks Argentine suppliers"

Valeria Vincent, columnist of business-financial "El Cronista,"
writes (09/01) "The US expert on investment strategies for
municipalities, Carlos Valderrama, emphasized the importance of
NGO's participation in the 'successful economic development of
municipalities,' while he pleaded for increasing commercial ties
between Argentina and the State of California...

"Valderrama, who was invited by the US Embassy to come to Argentina,
held meetings with government officials from the municipalities of
Moron, La Plata, Matanza and Rosario.

"Valderrama said 'one of the strategies I recommend for
municipalities is that local NGOs should be in charge of the
economic development of towns while the public sector can finance
the projects.'

"... Valderrama said he is against the USG modifying the GSP, which
benefits several exports from developing countries, among them,
Argentina. 'Actions of this kind may negatively impact Californian
industries.'

"With respect to commercial ties, the expert underscored that
commercial exchange between California and Argentina 'is relatively
low,' and that national businessmen could have access to the sector
of edible products, minerals and leather goods."

- "Investment strategies for local municipalities"

Natalia Labruna, columnist of business-financial "El Cronista,"
writes (09/01) "With the purpose of promoting trade between
municipalities, Carlos Valderrama, representative of the Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce, will analyze possible alliances with local
businessmen.

"Valderrama will offer a series of conferences under headline
'Investment strategies for municipalities' in the towns of Moron, La
Matanza and finally in the city of Rosario.

"He intends to spread several initiatives currently in place in
California. Valderrama pointed out that 'before the '80s, the
economic development of regions and cities was in hands of
governments, and today we see that the responsibility for the
economic development of several cities and municipalities lies in
hands of NGOs, and it bears profitable yield.'

"... Valderrama said he is interested in promoting California's
commercial opportunities because most countries 'export to the US
Eastern cities'. He asserted that 'Californian businessmen want to
sell and invest and that they have no political leaning when it
comes to doing business.'"

- "The US seeks more business with municipalities"

Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (09/01) "Carlos
Valderrama, member of the Los Angeles Chambers of Commerce and
consultant to the Los Angeles mayor, said 'it would not be a good
idea that the USG changes the GSP. We in California and Los Angeles
will do whatever it takes for this not to happen. I do not have the
authority to speak on behalf of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, but
I am sure he must also be interested in not changing this regime.'

"Carlos Valderrama was invited by the US Embassy to come to Buenos
Aires to build bridges between the towns of Rosario, Moron, La
Matanza and the city of Buenos Aires, on the one hand, and Los
Angeles and other cities in South California, on the other hand.

"'My purpose is to share some economic development programs that


were performed in Southern California with Argentina.' 'Before the
'80s, development was in the hands of the governments. Ever since,
it has been in the hands of the private sector and NGOs.'
'Argentina's business with California is minimal vis-`-vis what
could be done. Last year, Argentine exports to California were
barely 100 million dollars. This is a small amount bearing in mind
that California's economy is as big as Argentina's."

- "Cristina praises integration between Argentina and Venezuela"

Conservative "La Prensa" reports (09/01) "First Lady Cristina
Fernandez de Kirchner asserted that 'the integration experience
between Argentina and Venezuela is an example for the region' and
she considered that the hemisphere was 'devastated' by neo-liberal
policies of the '90s.

"... The integration experience between Argentina and Venezuela is
an example for the region not only in terms of indebtedness but also
agricultural and commercial cooperation.

"In the same line, Cristina Kirchner concluded that 'the region has
been devastated by the neo-liberal practices of the '90s in the
framework of the Consensus of Washington,' and 'the outcome of this
has been real social havoc in South America.'

"... The Argentine First Lady underscored that 'integration should
not only be economic or commercial, but essentially political, in
terms of infrastructure and energy resources.'"

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

MATERA