Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES512
2006-03-03 20:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:
PERUVIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VISITS ARGENTINA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBU #0512 0622057 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 032057Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3703 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5401 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 5189 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0861 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAR LIMA 1788 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 5376 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 5000
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000512
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2016
TAGS: PREL AR PE
SUBJECT: PERUVIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VISITS ARGENTINA
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000512
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2016
TAGS: PREL AR PE
SUBJECT: PERUVIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VISITS ARGENTINA
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On March 2, Peruvian presidential candidate Ollanto
Humala visited Argentina during a campaign tour of the region
and met with President Nestor Kirchner, Cabinet Chief Alberto
Fernandez and Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana at the Casa
Rosada. According to press reports, there are as many as
60,000 Peruvians living in Argentina who are eligible to vote
in the April 9 elections. Humala traveled to Brazil
following the meeting in Buenos Aires. An Argentine Foreign
Ministry statement downplayed any political significance to
the meeting, calling it a matter of "protocol" and Casa
Rosada sources were quoted in the press as stating the
meeting did not imply support for Humala's candidacy.
2. (U) In a press conference at his hotel later in the day,
Humala described himself as a "nationalist" and that he
"respected private property" and "sensible" foreign
investment. He expressed support for MERCOSUR and said the
region was witnessing a rebirth of leadership. "In some
regions it is called indigenous, in others socialist; in Peru
we are nationalists."
3. (C) Comment: Although the Casa Rosada stressed the
meeting with Kirchner was strictly a matter of protocol and
not an endorsement of Humala's candidacy, his willingness to
do so is perhaps a result of lessons learned from the Evo
Morales campaign. Kirchner had turned down a request for a
similar meeting with Morales in the days prior to the
Bolivian elections, first, because the GoA at that time still
believed PODEMOS candidate Jorge Quiroga would eventually
come out on top; and second, the GoA in the weeks immediately
after the Summit of the Americas was looking for ways it
could demonstrate that it was not totally coopted by Chavez
and Morales-styled populism. The GoA was caught flatfooted
by Morales's outright election victory and when Morales
embarked on his pre-inaugural world tour, Argentina was, at
first, left off the itinerary. When Morales finally did
agree to a brief stopover in Buenos Aires, he pointedly noted
he was not there to discuss gas and energy matters -- the
GoA's main concern. The upcoming Peruvian elections offer
Kirchner a chance to readjust his approach to another
presidential candidate with a similar profile, and to hedge
his bets in the face of an uncertain outcome. Ironically,
local pundits have opined that Humala's visit to Argentina
might actually hurt his campaign by bringing on accusations
of outside interference. End Comment.
4. (U) To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a>
GUTIERREZ
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2016
TAGS: PREL AR PE
SUBJECT: PERUVIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VISITS ARGENTINA
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On March 2, Peruvian presidential candidate Ollanto
Humala visited Argentina during a campaign tour of the region
and met with President Nestor Kirchner, Cabinet Chief Alberto
Fernandez and Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana at the Casa
Rosada. According to press reports, there are as many as
60,000 Peruvians living in Argentina who are eligible to vote
in the April 9 elections. Humala traveled to Brazil
following the meeting in Buenos Aires. An Argentine Foreign
Ministry statement downplayed any political significance to
the meeting, calling it a matter of "protocol" and Casa
Rosada sources were quoted in the press as stating the
meeting did not imply support for Humala's candidacy.
2. (U) In a press conference at his hotel later in the day,
Humala described himself as a "nationalist" and that he
"respected private property" and "sensible" foreign
investment. He expressed support for MERCOSUR and said the
region was witnessing a rebirth of leadership. "In some
regions it is called indigenous, in others socialist; in Peru
we are nationalists."
3. (C) Comment: Although the Casa Rosada stressed the
meeting with Kirchner was strictly a matter of protocol and
not an endorsement of Humala's candidacy, his willingness to
do so is perhaps a result of lessons learned from the Evo
Morales campaign. Kirchner had turned down a request for a
similar meeting with Morales in the days prior to the
Bolivian elections, first, because the GoA at that time still
believed PODEMOS candidate Jorge Quiroga would eventually
come out on top; and second, the GoA in the weeks immediately
after the Summit of the Americas was looking for ways it
could demonstrate that it was not totally coopted by Chavez
and Morales-styled populism. The GoA was caught flatfooted
by Morales's outright election victory and when Morales
embarked on his pre-inaugural world tour, Argentina was, at
first, left off the itinerary. When Morales finally did
agree to a brief stopover in Buenos Aires, he pointedly noted
he was not there to discuss gas and energy matters -- the
GoA's main concern. The upcoming Peruvian elections offer
Kirchner a chance to readjust his approach to another
presidential candidate with a similar profile, and to hedge
his bets in the face of an uncertain outcome. Ironically,
local pundits have opined that Humala's visit to Argentina
might actually hurt his campaign by bringing on accusations
of outside interference. End Comment.
4. (U) To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a>
GUTIERREZ