MEDIA REACTION US PRESIDENT BUSH TO INDIA

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000500

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 US PRESIDENT BUSH TO INDIA
ARGENTINA CHAIRS UNSC IDB LOAN FOR ARGENTINA HAITI
UNSCR 03/02/06



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's major international stories include US
President Bush's trip to India; the IDB granting a
loan to Argentina "in spite of US objections;"
Argentina's supporting the strengthening of Haiti's
Congress; and President Kirchner urging a 90-day halt
to the construction of two pulp mills in Uruguay in
order to allow for an environmental impact study.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "Bush arrives in India to reach a polemic nuclear
deal"

Leading "Clarin" reports (03/02) "With the purpose of
strengthening a very important strategic alliance, US
President George W. bush arrived in India last night
for a two-day visit in which the two countries expect
to reach a polemic nuclear deal and boost trade
exchange.

"... While some 50,000 people demonstrated against
President Bush's visit, the US president is confident
his trip will be fruitful.

"... According to expectations, the focus of the
meetings will be Washington's cooperation with the
Indian nuclear civil sector.

"... Bush's first visit to India coincides with
India's increasing political and economic importance.
Washington considers it a huge market and a
counterweight to China in Asia."

- "Argentina chairs the UN Security Council"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (03/02)
"Yesterday, Argentina started chairing the UN Security
Council.

"The agenda of March includes several sensitive
issues, such as the situation in Iran and Haiti, two
issues in which Argentina has played a leading role.

"In the case of the Iranian nuclear threat, during the
last International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA)
meeting, Argentina supported the US proposal to submit
the issue to the UN Security Council. Regarding Haiti,
our country takes part in the international peace
force established in the Caribbean country.

"... Argentine Ambassador to the UN Cesar Mayoral,
said a public session is expected in which Haitian
president-elect Rene Preval will participate in order
to assess the democratic development process in Haiti.

"Another important issue will be the nuclear crisis in
Iran, Mayoral said IAEA director Mohamed El Baradei's
attendance is expected."

- "Support for Haitian democracy"

Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by Jorge
Arguello, deputy and head of the Argentine Foreign
Relations Committee, who writes (03/02)"The Haitian
situation recurrently hits the front-pages of
newspapers due to the country's political instability,
which multiplies the critical economic and social
situation.

"... The presence of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and its
Latin American partners was not limited to military
cooperation but it implies cooperation in different
aspects of Haiti's ordinary life.

"... As a consequence of the meeting we held in Port-
au-Prince with President-elect Rene Preval a few days
ago, we started to prepare a Congressional
Strengthening Plan, which could be promoted by our
congresses to support the Haitian Congress after years
of closure."

- "The IDB grants a millionaire loan to Argentina in
spite of US objections"


Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading
"Clarin," writes (03/02) "The IDB approved a 500-
million-dollar loan for Argentina, although all of the
lending countries (the US, Italy, Japan, Germany,
Spain and Holland) abstained from voting, except for
Canada.

"During the debate..., directors of those countries
agreed to praise Argentina's economic growth and
fiscal surplus.

"However, there were objections on the way the
inflation problem is being faced and also about the
business atmosphere.

"... An Argentine diplomatic source told 'Clarin' that
US Treasury Secretary John Snow phoned Argentine
Ambassador to the White House, Jose Bordon, to tell
him that the abstention vote did not mean a change in
the policy on Argentina, but that they opposed these
kinds of loans based on principles. This is weird
because on some other occasions they OK'd loans of
this sort for other countries. Furthermore, according
to the source, the US Embassy in Buenos Aires will
release a communiqu tomorrow reiterating Snow's
statements."

- "The US expects the Argentine Government to make
more progress in the struggle against drugs"

Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading
"Clarin," comments (03/02) "The US wants deeds, not
words. In the US State Department's annual
International Narcotic Control Strategy Report, which
was made public yesterday, the US Department of State
points out that there are two leading cases that will
provide an opportunity to assess whether or not the
Argentine Government really means it when it says that
it is willing to fight against corruption and drug
trafficking.

"One of them is the case of the four federal police
officers that are linked to the 116 kilos of cocaine
found in a truck in Salta and the other case concerns
four pieces of luggage containing 60 kilos of cocaine
that were sent to Spain on a Southern Winds flight in
September, 2004.

"... According to the US State Department INCSR, the
Argentine Government is concerned about 'Bolivia's
political instability,' which could undermine anti-
drug efforts in that country and increase drug
trafficking toward Argentina.

"The US still considers Argentina a transit country
and not a producing country. According to the
International Narcotics Strategy Control Report,
cocaine comes from Bolivia, Peru and Colombia and goes
to European destinations. Argentina is also a transit
route for Colombian heroin en route to the U.S...

"The US is concerned because Argentina is a source for
precursor chemicals which are used in Bolivia."

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