AMBASSADOR'S NOVEMBER 16 MEETING WITH MINISTER OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 002613

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DHS FOR ICE/OIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2016
TAGS: PREL SNAR PTER KCRM PARM EWWT KNNP ASEC AR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S NOVEMBER 16 MEETING WITH MINISTER OF
INTERIOR

Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for reasons 1.4(b)and(d)

Summary
--------------

1. (C) On November 16, Ambassador had a very constructive
first meeting with Minister of the Interior Anibal Fernandez.
They discussed the excellent working relations between
Embassy agencies and the four federal law enforcement
agencies under the Minister's control. The Minister
explained his efforts to bring the previously disjointed
federal law enforcement agencies under his direction and
stressed that he was the point of access to these agencies
for the Embassy. He discussed MoI's efforts to develop a
new, biometric national ID card, cooperation on airport
security, and growing concerns about narcotics use in
Argentina. The Ambassador asked the Minister about the
Megaports Initiative, and it appears that Customs will likely
have lead jurisdiction for the GoA. The Ambassador
reiterated the importance of the AMIA report and arrest
warrants in the war on terror and pledged continued USG
support and assistance. The Minister stressed his commitment
to fighting terror and his enthusiasm for U.S. equipment and
technology. End Summary.

Fernandez in Charge
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2. (C) On November 16, the Ambassador, accompanied by
LegAtt, ICE Attache, RSO and PolOff, called on Minister of
Interior Anibal Fernandez. The Minister did not have anyone
else in the meeting. The tone of the meeting was very
positive with the Minister noting the excellent working
relationship the MoI enjoys with Embassy agencies. In the
last several months, Fernandez has centralized all decision
making regarding training invitations and invitations to
seminars under his personal oversight. He explained that he
had worked hard to bring the Federal Police (AFP),the
Gendarmeria (GN),Prefectura Naval (PN) and Airport Security
Police (PSA) under his coordinated leadership. He went on to
say that he was in agreement with Embassy agencies on 98
percent of the personnel recommended for training but that he
needed this degree of oversight in order to direct and
designate appropriately. The Ambassador agreed that
promoting coordination among law enforcement agencies was
essential and noted the makeup of the USG personnel at the
meeting as an example of Embassy efforts. The Minister said
he appreciated the broad range of cooperation with the USG
and pledged to work closely and smoothly with the Embassy.

National ID
--------------

3. (C) Fernandez explained to the Ambassador his plans for
developing a new biometric national ID card that would be
fraud resistant and could serve as ID, voting card, and
immigration document. He noted that former President Menem
in the '90s had initiated a similar project with the Siemans
company, but that it was never effectively implemented.
Fernandez explained that during Menem's administration, many
U.S. companies didn't compete in government contracts because
they didn't pay the "commissions" required, i.e. bribes
demanded by officials to consider their bids. The Minister
stressed that things had changed noting that several U.S.
companies had won bids recently, citing Motorola's contract
to provide communications equipment to the AFT. The
Ambassador stated that the U.S. was ready to help and very
interested in the ID project. The Ambassador noted that U.S.
companies are interested in investing in Argentina and
bidding on contracts and that competition and transparency
were essential. Fernandez said that the new ID project would
not be launched until after the national elections in October

2007.

Airport Security
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4. (SBU) The Ambassador told the Minister that U.S. was also
very interested in cooperating with the GoA on improving
airport and transportation security and noting the pending
TSA aviation security inspection (likely in February). The

SIPDIS
Ambassador told the Minister that the TSA Attache would like
to work in partnership with the PSA in conducting a
pre-assessment to prepare and assist them in meeting the
minimum ICAO standards. Fernandez agreed and asked that the

TSA Attache meet with him to discuss the inspection and

SIPDIS
preparation work. He also asked to be informed in writing
prior to the actual inspection.

Megaports
--------------

5. (C) The Ambassador asked Fernandez what internal decision
the government had taken in regards to the stalled Megaports
Initiative. (Note: The GoA had expressed strong interest
early in the year in participating in the Initiative and
hosted an April visit of a DoE-led team to conduct a
technical site survey and continue discussions on a proposed
MOU regarding implementation of the Megaports Initiative.
Both the Argentine Coast Guard (Prefectura) and Customs
Agency wanted to be the lead operational Agency for the
Megaports Initiative. The Embassy has expressed no
preference and the MFA was coordinating the MOU and initial
implementation but has made no progress on coming to a final
decision on which agency will lead. End Note). Fernandez
indicated that the Prefectura would not be working together
with Customs on the initiative. He said that the MoI was
focusing on purchasing some mobile scanners for use by the
AFP, Prefectura and Gendarmeria in detecting narcotics and
other contraband. Embassy will follow up the MFA and Customs
regarding the latest status of Megaports.

Counternarcotics
--------------

6. (U) The Minister noted the close and productive
relationship the AFP and Gendarmeria had with the Embassy's
DEA office. He said that increases of arrests and seizures
between 2004 and 2005 were up around 15 percent, but that
between 2005 and 2006 the increase was more like 300 percent.
This he said was due in large part to the coordinated
approach he was stressing amongst law enforcement agencies,
as well as the creation of special narcotics prosecuting
units in each of the country's provinces. These units, he
explained, had greatly increased communications between
prosecutors and police, and between the various provincial
and federal agencies. He said they were having a positive
effect with the population as well as more regular citizens
were coming forward unsolicited to provide valuable
information to law enforcement.


7. (SBU) Fernandez said he was very concerned about
increased drug use in Argentina, particularly the spread in
the use of "Paco" in the greater Buenos Aires area. Paco is
a very cheap, crude, low-quality form of cocaine base,
normally smoked. It is reportedly very addictive with
serious health effects. The Minister noted that nobody would
pay for the freight of such "trash," indicating that it was
being produced in the burgeoning local "kitchens" in Buenos
Aires' suburban slums. He also expressed his insistence on
receiving real and valuable information regarding trafficking
and drug seizures. He said he wanted his agencies to tell
him not just how much narcotic was being seized but also the
quality and its origin.

AMIA Terrorist Bombing
--------------

8. (C) LegAtt informed the Minister that, as of September,
the USG was a member of Interpol's Executive Committee and
would be ready to vigorously defend the Red Notices for
capture ordered by Investigating Judge Canicoba Corral.
Fernandez said that he has strongly supported the Kirchner
Administration's efforts to move this case forward. He said
he had met frequently with families of the victims and
representatives of both the Argentine and U.S. Jewish
communities. He explained that it had been difficult for the
GoA to strongly defend the Red Notices issued by the original
investigating judge Galeano due to the charges of malfeasance
against him and his eventual impeachment. The current
investigation, report and indictments are different, however,
and Fernandez said the government would be able to strongly
support them.


9. (C) The Ambassador said that the USG appreciated the
political will the President and the GoA have shown and that
the USG will continue to do all it can to support Argentina,
with the GoA in the lead. Fernandez related that upon taking
office in 2003, President Kirchner said -- in reference to

AMIA -- that there were no impunity pacts. Fernandez then
quoted Ariel Sharron saying you can't negotiate with
terrorists, and that we are partners and brothers on this
issue. The Ambassador agreed stating that both countries are
fighting the use of terrorism as a political tool and that
all nations had a responsibility to fight terror. This was
the reason, the Ambassador said, that the issuance of the
investigators' report and the Judge's warrants were so
important.

Physical Security
--------------

10. (SBU) Finally, the RSO thanked the Minister for the
excellent assistance the Embassy receives from the AFP and
PSA in providing assistance for visiting USG officials and
Congressional delegations, and the security the AFP provides
for the Embassy and Residence.


11. (C) Comment: This was a very positive first meeting
with Fernandez. His portfolio covers a range of interests
important to this Mission, and the Ambassador looks forward
to strengthening and building on the good bilateral work
underway. The Minister's micromanaging style complicates the
working relationship for Embassy agencies somewhat, but is
not insurmountable. He is a key political actor -- one of
the numerous likely candidates for Buenos Aires governorship
in 2007 -- and is interested in showing results (and not
making mistakes),so a productive and positive working
relationship with the U.S. is in his interests.
WAYNE