PRESIDENT BUSH'S ASIAN TOUR; AMBASSADOR WAYNE;

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002559 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 BUSH'S ASIAN TOUR; AMBASSADOR WAYNE; ARGENTINE-IRANIAN TIES; CENTRAL AMERICA; 11/15/06; BUENOS AIRES ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's leading international stories include President Bush's Asian tour; the status of Argentine-Iranian ties following the latest developments in the AMIA bombing probe; the situation in Central America in the aftermath of Daniel Ortega's election as the new president of Nicaragua and Panama's entry as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Local papers heavily report on Ambassador Wayne's meetings with Argentine Ministers Julio De Vido and Felisa Miceli. ¶2. FRONT-PAGE HEADLINES ON AMBASSADOR WAYNE'S MEETINGS WITH MINISTERS MICELI AND DE VIDO - Liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald" "US$ 4 billion in investment." "Federal Planning Minister Julio de Vido met yesterday with US Ambassador Earl Wayne at the Economy Ministry. Following the meeting, De Vido said that new investment from the US would reach four billion dollars over the next two years, mostly in the energy sector. Wayne also met with Economy Minister Felisa Miceli who requested that the US extend trade preferences with Argentina that expire by the end of the year." - Business-financial, center-right "InfoBae" "US Ambassador promises investment." "Following his meeting with Planning Minister Julio De Vido, the new US Ambassador to Argentina said: 'We also spoke about the impressive economic growth of Argentina during the last four years.'" - Conservative "La Prensa." "A request to the US" "The Argentine Government is concerned about trade preferences." "Ambassador Wayne underlined the role played by US companies in the Argentine economic recovery... De Vido said that US companies will invest some 4 billion dollars in the energy sector during the next two years." - Business-financial "El Cronista" (11/15) "Competition for digital TV standard is reactivated." "Several diplomatic contacts have been made during recent days to discuss the selection of a digital TV standard for the country. The US Ambassador promoted the American standard with De Vido. Europeans will follow suit with President (Kirchner)." ¶4. OPINION PIECES - "Bush will start an Asian tour that will test his foreign policy" Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (11/15) "US President George W. Bush started a tour that could reflect how much international influence he will maintain until the end of his administration in ¶2009. "The White House prepared a loaded agenda. Bush will first stop in Russia, where he will meet with Vladimir Putin and then he will visit Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia, the largest Muslim country where there have been anti-President Bush demonstrations for more than a week, most of them small and peaceful. "At the end of this month Bush will fly to Lithuania and Estonia, where he will meet again with Putin and the leaders of France, Jacques Chirac, and of Germany, Angela Merkel, during the NATO summit. "US President Bush's tour will officially focus on commercial... issues. However, the guidelines of his foreign policy (North Korean and Iranian nuclear programs and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) will repeatedly appear during his trip." ¶5. EDITORIALS - "Argentina's ties with Iran" Daily-of-record "La Nacion" editorializes (11/15) "Federal Judge Rodolfo Canicoba Coral's decision to consider the attack against the AMIA a crime against humanity and order the international capture of nine Iranian government officials is a positive step, which should be appreciated. However, due to the features of the probe and the international impact of the case, the Argentine Government should handle the issue in a firm and prudent way... "... The request for international arrest warrants gave way to mounting tension between Argentina and Iran, which refused to deliver the alleged masterminds of the attack to the judiciary. "Obviously, Iranian authorities did nothing but hinder the action of the judiciary and, therefore, they are damaging ties between the two countries. "... Currently, Argentina and Iran seem to be heading for an increasing confrontation that could lead to the rupture of diplomatic ties between the two countries. "We should support the recent judicial decision and underline the support of the international community in its efforts to put an end to this episode, which has been marked by the action of terrorism." - "Central American prospects" Leading "Clarin" editorializes (11/15) "The return of Daniel Ortega as president of Nicaragua and Panama's entry as a non permanent member of the UN Security Council are two new elements in Central America, which is quite different from the one we have known until just some years ago. "... Peace and democracy are two values that Central America has conquered. It has a huge task ahead - that of consolidating both peace and democracy by fostering its economic and social development." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE