MEDIA REACTION; G8 SUMMIT CONCLUSIONS; PUTIN'S PROPOSAL

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001129 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; G8 SUMMIT CONCLUSIONS; PUTIN'S PROPOSAL 06/08/07 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's most important international stories include G8 countries committing themselves to reduce gas emissions; and the implications of Russia's offer for the US to use a Russian-controlled radar system in Azerbaijan for a missile defense shield. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - "The G8 countries commit themselves to lowering gas emissions" Araceli Viceconte, Berlin-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," comments "... German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced yesterday that G8 countries reached an agreement aimed at putting an end to climate change. "The German Chancellor, who said 'It is a huge breakthrough,' got the US to assume at least an unspecified commitment to fighting climate change in the UN framework. "... According to the final text of the G8 summit (which will end today in Heiligendamm),'we seriously take into consideration the decisions made by the EU, Canada and Japan to reduce at least half of global (toxic) emissions by 2050.' "These words were carefully chosen after lengthy negotiations intended not to compel anyone to anything. It was precisely this which triggered the criticism of environmental and anti-globalization groups... "While Berlin presented the agreement as a step forward, the US delegation, for its part, made it clear that no one signed anything binding. Stephen Hadley, US National Security Advisor, said that 'no concrete figures were agreed upon.' "In any event, Merkel and her European counterparts got the US to change its initial position. In the past, the Bush administration wanted negotiations to be held among the 15 largest polluting countries without UN intervention. Now, it agreed to tackle the issue at an environmental ministerial meeting in the framework of a UN conference in Bali, Indonesia. "Seemingly, it was outgoing UK PM Tony Blair who convinced George W. Bush that the UN was the proper framework to deal with the carbon dioxide emissions issue." - "Shrewdness" Marcelo Cantelmi, international editor of leading "Clarin," writes (06/08) "The only place in the world where one can observe a solid strategy on the part of the U.S. is the offensive it chose to launch on Russia. However, it is not necessarily an attempt to 'twist Moscow's arm,' but to defend huge interests involved. "Vladimir Putin showed a shrewd attitude by launching yesterday's initiative, which surprised Americans. "The idea of locating an antimissile shield in Azerbaijan is absolutely cunning. The US and UK have built a gigantic oil pipe line from Azerbaijan up to Turkey, which is in effect the Kremlin's real Western border. Nevertheless, this Russia is capitalist and it is learning to be pragmatic, or, in other words, (it is learning) to understand where profits lie and when confrontation makes no sense at all." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires MATERA