Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES2169
2006-09-22 19:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT KIRCHNER'S TRIP TO NEW YORK AND MEETING WITH

Tags:  KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHBU #2169/01 2651951
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221951Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5999
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002169 

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: PRESIDENT KIRCHNER'S TRIP TO NEW YORK AND MEETING WITH
AMBASSADOR WAYNE AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON; OUTCOME OF MEXICAN
ELECTIONS; 09/22/06


UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002169

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: PRESIDENT KIRCHNER'S TRIP TO NEW YORK AND MEETING WITH
AMBASSADOR WAYNE AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON; OUTCOME OF MEXICAN
ELECTIONS; 09/22/06



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's major papers "Clarin" and "La Nacion" reported on President
Nestor Kirchner's trip to New York and his meeting with US
Ambassador to Argentina, Tony Wayne, and US Assistant Secretary for
Western Hemispheric Affairs Thomas Shannon. Daily-of-record "La
Nacion" carries an editorial on the outcome of Mexican election
highlighting Venezuela's failed interference in the procedure.


2. OPINION PIECES

- "Kirchner - price monitoring will continue one more year"

Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin,"
comments (09/22) "In a room that was crowded with businessmen,
bankers, Wall Street agents, and US officials, President Nestor
Kirchner announced last night that he expected to put an end to
'price monitoring by late 2007 or early 2008 at the latest.'

"... Kirchner explained that, in fact, there are no price controls
in Argentina but price monitoring..., which is reported to be one of
the elements that has most discouraged foreign investment. ...
Kirchner's announcement was obviously part of his initiative to
attract new investors.

"Kirchner insisted that 'Argentina's doors are open to foreign
investment,' 'there is not and there will not be controls on capital
flow but on speculative capital flow.' Furthermore, Kirchner spoke
about the need for clear and predictable rules.

"Last night's dinner was organized by the Council of the Americas
and particularly by its head, Susan Segal, and was preceded by a
small meeting among the members of that organization and Kirchner.
The newly elected US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne,
attended the meeting.

"Everyone agreed that the meeting was very nice and that, while
Wayne will obviously defend the interests of US corporations in
Argentina, he will also work to solve the problems that could come
up in the (bilateral) relationship.

"In fact, during his speech Kirchner urged the 'US to support the
region.' He spoke about the need for that support in a tone that he
had never used before.

"He repeatedly invited attendees to invest in the country because

they will make money. However, he acknowledged that there is still a
problem of credibility.

"... Kirchner added that if Argentina grows at a three-percent
annual rate during the upcoming years, 'we will have a major country
that will contribute to the economy of the region,' and that
businessmen will profit from their investments in the country.

"Generally speaking, the dinner was cordial. Among invitees, there
was US assistant Secretary for Western Hemispheric Affairs Tom
Shannon; the President and VP, Occidental Petroleum, John Morgan and
David Powell; Alberto Fernandez; and Susan Segal - President
Kirchner stated praise and deep gratitude for her support for the
country."

- "First outcomes of two challenging trips"

Marcelo Bonelli, economic columnist of leading "Clarin," writes
(09/22) "(Argentine) President Nestor Kirchner had a cautious
welcome in the US while Economy Minister Felisa Miceli promoted the
replacement of Federico Molina, the current Argentine financial
representative in the US after a retreat in Singapore.

"... President Nestor Kirchner's visit to Manhattan left something
clear - the diminished political importance of Argentine Ambassador
Octavio Bordon and the leading role played by Consul Hector
Timerman. Bordon was not even involved in arranging a crucial
meeting - that of Assistant Secretary Tom Shannon with Ministers
Alberto Fernandez and Julio De Vido, which was arranged by Susan
Segal, head of the Council of the Americas...

"Shannon attempted to rebuild deteriorated diplomatic ties between
Washington and Buenos Aires. First of all, he clarified that the US
Department of State does not support Roberto Lavagna's candidacy and
he also denied that the new US Ambassador to Argentina is supposed
to strengthen the opposition against Kirchner. Additionally, he
praised the President's pursuit of investment, although he also
expressed concern about Argentina's closeness to Hugo Chavez...

"Finally, Shannon made a concrete request - Washington wants


Kirchner to moderate the instability created by both Chavez and
Morales. In other words, Washington wants Argentina to preserve its
leading role by following Brazil's example and setting a limit on
Chavez."

- "Kirchner promises high profitability"

Martin Rodriguez Yebra, on special assignment in New York for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (09/22) "... During a dinner
that was organized by the Council of the Americas, President Nestor
Kirchner explained the reasons why his economic program is reliable,
and he emphatically denied the risk of an energy crisis in the
country.

"In tune with his message at the New York Stock Exchange, he spoke
of 'predictable and clear rules, (judicial) security for investors
and a sound fiscal policy,' all of which will guarantee the
country's sustained growth.

"... At the last minute, the future US Ambassador (to Argentina),
Earl Anthony Wayne; the US Ambassador to the OAS, John Maisto; and
George W. Bush's man for Latin American Affairs, Tom Shannon, joined
the Argentine President's table.

"Now that the bilateral relationship is at a cool point, this was
Kirchner's only contact with members of the USG during his one-week
trip to New York, which was aimed at attracting investment."


3. EDITORIALS

- "Mexico's lesson"

An editorial in daily-of-record "La Nacion" reads (09/22) "There is
a false assumption that everything can be manipulated through media
images and words... an idea used by leftist political leaders who
want to take hold of Latin America as a scenario of weird utopias.

"Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is one of the politicians that has most
trusted in media methodology... He has shocked Mexico for weeks.

"... Two of the most respected Mexican institutions have said that
Felipe Calderon won elections. As a result of this, fissures have
started to appear in Lopez Obrador's political front...

"Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, founder of Partido de la Revolucion
Democratica (PRD),said 'I am deeply concerned about Andres Lopez
Obrador's intolerance'...

"Two governors from the PRD have already acknowledged Calderon's
victory...

"The time has come for Mexico to start getting ready for a new
period of peace, freedom and prosperity and to take advantage of the
coincidence that for the second time in the year (first, it was in
Peru),the Venezuelan regime's interference in other countries of
the hemisphere has ended up in a conclusive failure."

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

MATERA