US TIES WITH CUBA AND VENEZUELA; RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN;

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002784 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: US TIES WITH CUBA AND VENEZUELA; RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN; IRAN AND THE HOLOCAUST; 12/15/06; BUENOS AIRES ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's main international stories include the US relations with Cuba and Venezuela; the public image of Russian President Putin in the aftermath of the murder of former spy Litvinenko; and Iran's move to promote a "historical revision" of the Holocaust. All local newspapers reported on a reception for Argentine journalists offered yesterday by US Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne and on the US Ambassador's meeting with Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, during which GSP extension was discussed. ¶2. OPINION PIECES - "The US will attempt to improve ties with Cuba and Venezuela" Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (12/15) "According to State Department officials and Congressional representatives, the US political establishment will try 'to build new bridges' with Cuba and Venezuela, its greatest opponents in Latin America, in an attempt to improve ties with both countries and 'strengthen democratic harmony' in the rest of the hemisphere. "Republicans, both inside and outside the Bush administration, and Democratic legislators have said that they will seek to improve ties with President Hugo Chavez, although they acknowledge there is disagreement on the possibility of an eventual dialogue with the Cuban regime even after Raul Castro expressed his will to smooth US-Cuban bilateral ties... "US Assistant Secretary of State Tom Shannon said yesterday: 'We believe that, with so many new governments in the region, 2007 will be a year to establish a dialogue with them, while reaffirming our ties with countries that have not had elections.' Shannon also said that there will be a dialogue 'without conditions' with Venezuela. "US Ambassador to Caracas William Brownsfield met yesterday with FM Nicolas Maduro, a move Shannon termed 'an important step forward' in the (USG) relationship with the Chavez administration." ¶3. EDITORIALS - "Concern over Putin's Russia" An editorial in daily-of-record "La Nacion" reads (12/15) "The international community's concern over increased authoritarianism, unsolved murders, repeated abuse of power and general deterioration in the rule of law in the Russian Federation has relentlessly mounted since Vladimir Putin took over the presidency of the country in 2000. "The recent murder in London of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko only deepens such concern. "... It is imperative that the Russian Federation cooperate with Interpol and German and British police forces in actively investigating the murder of Litvinenko... "... The clarification of the murder of former spy Litvinenko is crucial bearing in mind the extended suspicion about the Putin administration's image." - "The manipulation of history" An editorial in leading "Clarin" reads (12/15) "The Iranian government's decision to organize an international seminar to 'revise the Holocaust' means taking the Middle East conflict to the field of historic and academic debate. "The historic veracity of the Holocaust... has been entirely and sufficiently proved... "... It is the first time a government fosters an international activity inviting to revise and downplay the Holocaust and question the State of Israel's historic legitimacy. Both purposes deserve the most emphatic disapproval." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE