MEDIA REACTION IRAN-IAEA-ARGENTINA, GLOBAL

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000308

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: MEDIA REACTION IRAN-IAEA-ARGENTINA, GLOBAL
OUTRAGE OVER MUHAMMAD CARTOONS, HAMAS; BUENOS AIRES
02/07/06



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Papers continue to lead with the Iran case at the
IAEA, with France and Russia seeking to stop the
escalation against Tehran, and Argentina's public
stance on the up-coming vote at the UNSC; the growing
violence between the Muslim world and the West,
following the publication of Muhammad's cartoons and
Hamas' allegedly remarkable opportunity to bridge the
deep differences between Israel and Palestine.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "Discussing Iran"

Leftist "Pagina 12" says (02/07) "Argentina's
Ambassador to the UN, Cesar Mayoral, assured that
Argentina 'won't necessarily side' with the U.S. next
month when voting on the Iran case at the UNSC. 'Prior
to the vote, we will discuss the IAEA's final report
and what we will do with Iran's nuclear program, but
we won't necessarily align ourselves with the U.S.
because this is not a problem between two countries,'
said Mayoral. From New York, the diplomat also charged
against the 'political side of aligning with the U.S.,
or against Venezuela,' by saying 'what we're debating
here only has to do with the use of nuclear energy for
purposes that are not peaceful,' he said."

- "Argentina, Without a Defined Position"

Center-right, daily-of-record "La Nacion" says (02/07)
".... Ambassador Mayoral said 'We won't decide
anything until we read the IAEA report; Argentina will
first analyze the report, listen to what is said in
Vienna and, from there, discuss future actions, which
is another issue,' said Mayoral."

- "Russia and France Want to Stop Escalation of War
Against Iran"

Maria Laura Avignolo, centrist, leading "Clarin" Paris-
based correspondent, writes (02/07) ".... France
joined Russia in its search for a negotiated solution
and urged Tehran 'to cooperate' with the international
community.

".... Iran replied that 'IAEA inspectors will come to
Tehran in the next few days'...

"Iran's response appears amid confusing declarations
within Tehran's government, where some officials refer
to the ban on IAEA's untimely inspections to Iran's
installations and others mention the up-coming visit
of these UN officials to the nuclear plants.

"Some foreign diplomats in Tehran perceive a clear
division in the administration: President Ahmadinejad
is supported in his defiant declarations by the Guards
of the Revolution and the secret service, while the
Foreign Ministry seems to be trying to find a
conciliatory line, before the UNSC meeting in March,
when it needs to obtain votes to counteract possible
sanctions.

".... Regardless of certain challenging declarations,
Iran is leaving the door open to diplomacy...."

- "Reactions"

Marcelo Cantelmi, centrist, leading "Clarin"
international editor, opines (02/07) "The outrage of
the Muslim world following Denmark's publication of
Muhammad's cartoons is an exuberant overreaction. But
that obvious issue doesn't justify the less dogmatic
position of a good portion of the Western world. The
publication of those cartoons was made without taking
into consideration the conflictive scenario in the
Muslim world due to the war in Iraq, the Palestinian
dead-end or the 'demonization' of Islam. The West is
seriously responsible for that, like it was when it
fostered the growth of Islamic leaders in the region
to block the USSR during the Cold War, or it wove
alliances with Bin Laden or Saddam. Therefore,
Fundamentalism has many fathers. This is why the
publication of the cartoons appears like an


unnecessary and puerile provocation rather than a
sensible exercise of freedom of the press."

- "A Rift That Grows Day by Day"

Eduardo Febbro, leftist "Pagina 12" Paris-based
correspondent, writes (02/07) ".... The crisis sparked
by the publication of the cartoons in a Denmark daily
acquired a proportion that's out of control.

".... According to observers, the 'cartoon crisis' led
to a political issue of major proportions that goes
beyond controversy.

"European leaders believe that the publication by
several other dailies only 'added fuel to the initial
insult.' Nothing indicates today that 'the offense'
will tone down. Those responsible in the EU don't know
what to do in order to calm down the tension and
prevent the crisis from being used as a component to
spread hatred towards the Western world, in a context
that's already marked by a division between the Muslim
world and Western countries, with the backdrop of
three conflicts: the invasion of Iraq, the war in
Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Gathered in Brussels for an urgent meeting,
representatives of the 25 EU members called for 'peace
and dialogue.'..."

- "Hamas, a Formidable Opportunity"

Political analyst Vicente Massot, writes in center-
right, daily-of-record "La Nacion" (02/07) ".... No
matter how controversial we view it, Hamas' victory
doesn't necessarily have to be ominous. Moreover: it
might be an encouragement to negotiate the enmity of
both sides which, I may add, won't disappear in the
region by magic. Let's be honest: the present
situation has nothing to do with poverty in the world,
the U.S. invasion of Iraq or the absence of democratic
traditions in the Arab world. In fact, what we must
bear in mind is the existence of a war that, without a
solution in sight, has spread since the creation of
the State of Israel; the presence of two enemies,
apparently irreconcilable, and the fundamental role
that the U.S. - as only superpower -- might play as
ultimate guarantor of Israel's security.

".... Today, the important issue is that Hamas is co-
ruling and knows, better than anyone, that the Jewish
army may easily occupy the Western bank, without
eliminating the Palestinian claim, and also the
asymmetry in terms of power is so important that
Israel may, at the same time, maintain the present
status quo for decades.

".... Those who believed that after Arafat's death,
the only obstacle to reach peace had disappeared and
that his successor Abu Mazen would be the ideal
interlocutor, were far from being right. The only
interlocutor capable of bridging the huge differences
between these belligerent players is Hamas, more so
after its victory in the elections. Basically, because
it has the necessary power to negotiate and meet its
commitments...."


3. EDITORIALS

- "Correct Steps in Foreign Policy"

An editorial in center-right, daily-of-record "La
Nacion" reads (02/07) "Argentina's decision to side
with the vote of the majority of the countries that
are part of the IAEA board to take the Iran case to
the UNSC, was correct.

"In view of the ratification of its nuclear plan by
Tehran's theocratic regime - which means more
instability in the volatile Middle East region and
represents a threat to global peace - our country
acted seriously, siding with the nations that want to
investigate the true reasons for Iran's program.

"By doing this, the Kirchner administration seems to
have made a correct evaluation of its foreign policy
strategy, to separate the ideological and biased vote


of Cuba and Venezuela...

"In this context, we must celebrate Argentina's
rapprochement with the U.S. after the abrupt retreat
and cooling in bilateral relations, due to the public
differences clearly expressed at the Summit of the
Americas.

".... Good relations with key countries don't have to
be equal to submission. Instead, they must be a policy
marked by seriousness, respect and autonomy in the key
decisions of the Republic.

"....Despite the differences in criteria, there are
many issues of mutual interest that Argentina has with
the U.S., which need to be reinforced, such as the
future of Bolivia in the hands of its new leader, Evo
Morales, the growing confrontation between Venezuela
and Washington, the present and future of Haiti and,
at a global level, Iran's nuclear crisis.

"Vis--vis this critical issue that jeopardizes global
stability, our country presented a firm position that
must be underscored.

".... Argentina's recent steps in foreign policy must
be highlighted, because they bring the country closer
to moderate and reasonable positions, which may again
lead it to become a reference when making key
decisions for the future of the region and the world."


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

The Media Reaction Report reflects articles and
opinions by the cited news media and do not
necessarily reflect U.S. Embassy policy or views. The
Public Affairs Section does not independently verify
information. The report is intended for internal U.S.
Government use only.

GUTIERREZ