MEDIA REACTION VISIT OF US SENATORS UPCOMING

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000065 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 VISIT OF US SENATORS UPCOMING VISIT OF A/S SHANNON TO BUENOS AIRES EVERETT EISSENSTAT APPOINTMENT IRAN EVO MORALES 01/11/06 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's leading international stories include Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana's meetings with a delegation of US Republican senators; tomorrow's visit of A/S Shannon (business-financial papers highlight the "US and Argentina's renewed intention to resume talks after the 'short-circuits' occurred at the SOA due to FTAA"); and the appointment of Everett Eissenstat as US Assistant Trade Representative for the Americas. Business-financial "El Cronista" carries a positive editorial on Evo Morales. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES - "Without 'carnal relations,' Taiana resumes talks with the US" Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" (01/11) reports "Nestor Kirchner wants, although not in a strident way, to heal the Argentine relationship with the USG, which was impaired at the SOA. The US Department of State and several governments of the region believed the SOA was a failure. This is why this week, the Pink House expects to improve the situation somewhat. In addition to tomorrow's visit of A/S for the Western Hemisphere Tom Shannon, yesterday, a delegation of US senators led by Mitch McConnell started a series of official visits. "... On trade hemispheric integration, disagreement prevails - Argentines talked about their ambition to liberalize agricultural trade before making progress on the FTAA. Obviously, they spoke about Bolivia and the political and institution riddle represented by Morales, and also about the endless Haitian crisis." - "Key meeting with Bush's envoy" Micaela Perez, economic and political columnist of business-financial "El Cronista," writes (01/11) "Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana received yesterday a delegation of US senators, led by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who are in Argentina to discuss several topics of the bilateral and regional agenda with local government officials. "... Generally speaking, the meeting's framework was the renewed intention of both countries to resume talks after the 'short-circuits' occurred at the SOA due to the FTAA implementation. "The most important bilateral meeting will take place tomorrow midday when Taiana meets with A/S for Western Hemisphere Affairs Tom Shannon, one of the main protagonists of the SOA in charge of promoting FTAA negotiations... "... Shannon's visit unleashed certain suspicion after Uruguay's alleged purpose of reaching a FTD with the US... Another topic that will surely be tackled is the US concern over Morales' victory in Bolivia." - "The US appoints Assistant Trade Representative for the Americas" Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (01/11) "The US appointed a new officer for the development of its economic strategy on Latin America. It is Everett Eissenstat, who has acted so far as chief international trade counsel to the US Senate. "... This change is aimed at reversing the little success obtained in the development of bilateral deals with Latin American countries and blocs during latest years. "After what happened at the 2004 Cancun WTO meeting, the Bush administration decided to change the direction of its commercial policy on the hemisphere. It noticed that the FTAA could be slow, and, therefore, preferred to make progress on bilateral economic integration deals. "Nonetheless, this policy did not turn out as expected, and ever since just a few deals have been reached... "Then, the Mar del Plata Summit was a new retreat for US commercial projects in the region in view of Mercosur and Venezuela's rejection of the FTAA. "The new strategy seeks to speed up and deepen bilateral deals by making progress on FTDs with Peru and Ecuador." - "The West has little maneuvering margin" Alberto Armendariz, daily-of-record "La Nacion's" New York-based correspondent, writes (01/11) "Iran's resumption of its nuclear research program unleashed yesterday a dangerous verbal escalation between Tehran and the West, but the US and EU's threats to submit the issue to the UN Security Council could have no impact on the conservative government of Mahmoud Ahmadinajad, who believes the West's coercion power is today limited. "... Yesterday's was President Ahmadinajad's second nuclear challenge to the international community since he took over in August... "... Iran's attitude did nothing but increase Washington and the EU's fears that Iran seeks to manufacture nuclear weapons... "... If the issue is finally submitted to the UN Security Council, diplomatic sanctions or an economic embargo could be imposed, but Iran's reaction... could pose even greater economic and political problems to the international community." ¶3. EDITORIALS - "Evo, the new Lula?" Business-financial "El Cronista" editorializes (01/11) "Amid post-crisis questions and concern unleashed among international corporations by Morales taking over, there have been encouraging signs in La Paz. Amid Morales' long international tour, the Bolivian Private Businessmen Corporation praised Morales' presentation and termed his tour as 'exceptional.' 'He obtained what others would not have obtained,' in reference to the economic aid promised by Venezuela and Spain. "During recent days, Morales has appeared convinced that the country will need investment in order to overcome poverty and has even promised guarantees to businessmen. Will his administration be closer to those of Castro and Chavez, as one could expect, or to pragmatic Lula? We'll see, but the choice of realistic integration could be a first positive step." 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