MEDIA REACTION IRAN US HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT US-

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000572

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 US HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT US-
BOLIVIAN RELATIONSHIP 2006 HERITAGE FOUNDATION RANKING
03/09/06



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's major international stories include Iran
warning the US that it could inflict "harm and pain"
to match whatever punishment Washington persuaded the
UN Security Council to dole out for Tehran's refusal
to halt atomic research; the 2006 US State Department
Human Rights Report; the 2006 Heritage Foundation
ranking; the Argentine Government's defense at the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the
measures it took during last year related to the
investigation of the attack against AMIA headquarters;
and a US House of Representatives committee blocking
the Bush administration's plan to allow a Dubai
company to manage six US ports.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "Intransigence"

Claudio Mario Aliscioni, international columnist of
leading "Clarin," writes (03/09) "The submission of
the Iranian case to the UN Security Council should not
be surprising. The intransigence of one sector is
paralleled by the intransigence of the other one.

"With its radical stance and unnecessary provocation
of Israel, Iran has acquired the mistrust of Western
sectors that used to be in tune with it. In this way,
Iran hindered its right to develop a nuclear program
according to international law.

"For its part, the US is torpedoing every attempt at a
diplomatic way out. But, its clear purpose (punishing
ayatollahs no matter what) has an obscure dimension.

"Perhaps, it is convenient to remember that the White
House was the one who promoted the Iranian nuclear
program 30 years ago when the Pahlevi dynasty was in
place."

- "Iran, in the hands of the UN Security Council"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" (03/09) reports "After
three years of investigations that have not concluded
whether or not Tehran's nuclear program has only
peaceful purposes, the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) decided to submit the Iranian case to
the UN Security Council, which leaves the door open
for a economic sanctions and in the worst case
military intervention.

"Meanwhile, the verbal confrontation between the US
and Iran was further deepened yesterday when
representatives of the two countries issued new
crossed statements. Tehran warned Washington that
their confrontation could well end up causing 'harm
and pain' to Washington."

- "The US condemns Venezuela and Cuba"

Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (03/09)
"Yesterday, according to the US State Department
annual report on human rights report, the US accused
the Chavez administration of having lashed out at the
opposition, politicized the Judicial Branch and
imposed restrictions on press freedom last year.

"According to the US report, 'widespread corruption
can be observed at all levels' of the Venezuelan
administration, although it did not include Venezuela
in the group of countries having most number of
charges for human rights violations (which includes
Cuba, Iran and North Korea, among others).

"In this way, Venezuela became the only Latin American
country mentioned in the annual report section
focusing on those nations in which 'civil society and
independent press are jeopardized,' along with China,
Russia, Belarus, Cambodia and Zimbabwe.

"The general human rights report, which was submitted
by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, also
criticized 'the politicization of the Venezuelan
judicial system,' which it termed as 'corrupt, and


inefficient'...

"The US State Department mentioned as an example of
(Venezuelan) human rights violations the investigation
of four leaders of the Sumate NGO who were accused of
conspiracy for having received funds from US
corporations to attend training courses and fora on
democracy."

- "Washington ponders Argentina's human rights policy"

Conservative "La Prensa" (03/09) reports "Argentina
received an approving mark in the US State Department
annual report on human rights practices all over the
world, according to which neither the Argentine
government nor its agents committed politically
motivated killings during 2005, but it warned that
'police and prison officers committed killings
involving unwarranted or excessive force.'

"According to the report, the USG also denounced some
judges' lack of efficiency and corruption in
provincial courts.

"Argentina, as well as Chile and Uruguay, obtained a
standard approving mark in the report released by the
US State Department, according to which generally
speaking, during 2005, human rights were honored.'

"'The Kirchner administration generally respected
freedom of speech and of the press.' According to the
report, the Argentine government moved forward in
judicial reform; in August the country's first jury
trial was conducted.

"... On the other hand, according to the report,
prison conditions are often poor and life
threatening.'"

- "Evo Morales denounces 'much US provocation'"

Leading "Clarin" reports (03/09) "Bolivian President
Evo Morales insisted that the Bolivian army will
return neither the armament nor the equipment asked
for by Washington from an antiterrorist unit, while he
protested for 'much provocation and aggression from
the US Embassy in La Paz.'

"The bilateral tension was unleashed on Monday when
Morales mentioned a letter from the US Military Group
in Bolivia announcing the immediate withdrawal of
Washington's aid for the (Bolivian) Joint
Counterterrorist Force due to mistrust of a military
leader. The Bolivian president denounced that the US
wanted to impose military commanders."

- "Argentina's growth according to the Economic
Freedom ranking"

Sergio Serrichio, economic and political columnist of
business-financial "El Cronista," comments (03/O9)
"While it had an average GDP growth rate of 9% per
year for three running years, Argentina continues
falling in the Heritage Foundation's Economic Freedom
ranking...

"According to the 2006 Index of Economic Freedom, the
country fell to the 107th rank among a total of 161
nations, 90 scores below its 17th position in 2000,
when it obtained its best score in the Heritage
Foundation ranking.

"... During an interview with Ana Eiras, Heritage
senior analyst, she attributed the recent expansion of
the country to external factors, such as the high
price of commodities and a favorable external
framework, not to the virtues of the country's
economic policy... The Argentine economy is
'increasing less competitive' and, with the current
policies, its growth is not 'sustainable' in the long
run."

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