MEDIA REACTION; 27TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE OAS IN PANAMA;

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001153

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; 27TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE OAS IN PANAMA;
AMERICAS COMPETITIVENESS FORUM; 06/12/07


1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Major international stories today include US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice repudiating "the censorship of not renewing private
TV licenses in Venezuela" in the framework of the 27th OAS General
Assembly in Panama; and US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez's
statements at the Americas Competitiveness Forum about the benefits
of market freedom.


2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS

- "Grand (a) standing?"

Michael Soltys, executive editor of liberal, English-language
"Buenos Aires Herald," writes (06/12) "... While Capitol Hill was
questioning Uribe's Colombia Plan, the White House was less
interested in defending Uribe than attacking Chavez - Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice showed up at the 27th General Assembly of the
OAS in Panama to repudiate the 'censorship' of not renewing private
TV licenses in Venezuela (the new pro-Chavez president of Ecuador,
Rafael Correa, is now threatening to follow suit).

"This drive did not prosper with OAS Secretary'General Jose Miguel
Insulza rejecting any probe into Venezuela's freedom of speech as
unwarranted intervention - an OAS reflex response rather than any
victory for the incoherent splutterings of Rice's Venezuelan
counterpart Nicolas Maduro about US President George W. Bush being
the same as Adolf Hitler on the basis of the terrorist suspects held
in Guantanamo base."

- "In the US view, market freedom 'is fundamental'"

Santiago Chelala, on special assignment in Atlanta for
business-financial "El Cronista," writes (06/12) "When US Secretary
of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez was consulted by 'El Cronista' about
the US-Argentine relationship, he said that 'experience has
demonstrated that the countries with the highest growth are those
with the most economic openness.'

"During the Americas Competitiveness Forum, which is being held in
Atlanta, the USG official did not avoid speaking about farm
subsidies, one of the thorniest issues.

"Having promoted FTAs in the region, Gutierrez showed a cautious
attitude when speaking about Argentina. He diplomatically answered
that 'while market freedom is fundamental in creating jobs and
attracting investment, every country should make its own
decisions.'

"Asked about the possibility of lowering farm subsidies, his
response was conclusive - 'Before we do that, there are many other
things to do; the US is already one of the most open countries in
the world.'"

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires

MATERA