ARGENTINA: FOREIGN MINISTER AND KIRCHNER AIDE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 002751

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: FOREIGN MINISTER AND KIRCHNER AIDE ON
U.S.-ARGENTINA RELATIONS

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


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador and EmbOffs met with Argentine
Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana December 14 and discussed
U.S.-Argentine relations, among other issues (septels).
Ambassador raised the recent article in La Nacion newspaper
that claimed President Kirchner had told Venezuelan President
Chavez that Venezuelan-Argentine relations needed to be more
commercial and less political in the run-up to the 2007
Presidential elections, implying that the U.S. would apply
some political pressure if Venezuelan-Argentine relations
were too close. Taiana dismissed the article, saying the GoA
wants strong relations with both Venezuela and the U.S. He
commented that the actions of the recently recalled
Venezuelan Ambassador to Argentina were not appropriate for
an ambassador, and bordered on meddling in the internal
affairs of Argentina. In a separate telephone conversation,
Presidential Legal and Technical Affairs Secretary and close
Kirchner aide Carlos Zannini told Ambassador that the article
was "not true" and a "falsification," stressing that
President Kirchner wants a "serious and mature" relationship
with the U.S. Both Taiana and Zannini expressed satisfaction
at A/S Shannon's positive remarks on Argentina carried widely
in the Argentine press this week. End Summary.


2. (C) During a December 14 meeting, Argentine Foreign
Minister Jorge Taiana told Ambassador Wayne that the December
9 article in La Nacion newspaper that claimed President
Kirchner had told Venezuelan President Chavez that
Venezuelan-Argentine relations needed to be more commercial
and less political because the Casa Rosada needed closer ties
to the U.S. in the run-up to the 2007 presidential elections
would not hold water for anyone who knows the Kirchner
administration. He dismissed the article, stressing the
GoA's strong desire to have close relations with both the
U.S. and Venezuela.


3. (C) Taiana mentioned the recent removal of Venezuelan
Ambassador Roger Capella. He said that Capella was probably
engaging in activities within Argentina that were not
appropriate for a foreign ambassador. Capella tepped on
some toes, and Kirchner asked for his removal. Taiana said
that the Venezuelan Ambassador's actions bordered on
interfering with the internal affairs of Argentina.


4. (C) In a separate telephone conversation, Presidential
Legal and Technical Affairs Secretary and close Kirchner aide
Carlos Zannini also dismissed the article. Zannini, who was
in the meeting between the presidents, told Ambassador Wayne
that the article was "not true" and a "falsification,"
stressing that President Kirchner wants a "serious and
mature" relationship with the U.S. "His conception of
relations with the U.S. is very distinct" from that of
Venezuela's president. President Kirchner wants more U.S.
investment in Argentina and thus the focus on the commercial,
Zannini said, but he realizes that such investment is needed
for the long term and the can only happen if there are
serious and mature relations and a set of policies that will
bring the investment.


5. (C) Zannini expressed his appreciation of the positive
remarks about Argentina made by A/S Shannon in New York which
were reported widely in the local media on December 13.
Foreign Minister Taiana also expressed appreciation for A/S
Shannon's remarks and indicated his desire to work closely
and to dialogue intensely on a range of issues (septel).


6. (C) Comment: Both Foreign Minister Taiana and Secretary
Zannini were quick to dismiss the La Nacion article and
stress the importance of strong relations with the U.S.
Although Taiana and Zannini seemed sincere in their
explanations of what President Kirchner really said to
Chavez, Embassy has heard all of the "right" things from GoA
officials before and Ambassador Wayne had to reach-out first
to the GoA about the article and ask for clarification.
Ambassador will raise the issue in a meeting with Planning
Minister Julio DeVido on December 18. End Comment.
WAYNE