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