MEDIA REACTION; THE LATIN AMERICAN POPULIST MODEL; THE

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001177 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; THE LATIN AMERICAN POPULIST MODEL; THE OUTCOME OF THE G8 SUMMIT; VISA WAIVER PROGRAM EXPANSION; 06/15/07 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's international leading stories cover Latin America's populist model; the lack of progress made by the G8 summit in terms of the social and environmental agenda; and the Visa Waiver Program. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - "The hypnotic populist model" Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an op-ed piece by writer Marcos Aguinis, who opines (06/15) "No populist regime has managed (or seriously wanted) to put an end to poverty, boost open education or discourage fanaticism. Their programs are not intended to achieve sustained and steady development. They are not interested in protecting individual rights or the rule of law... "... The populist model cannot help but fuel hatred... Peron versus the oligarchy and opponents, Evo Morales versus white men, Chavez versus the wealthy..., Kirchner versus the '90s... "... The populist model also boosts utopia, this is to say, the promise that it is making progress towards a wonderful future. It is a phantom that is tenaciously repeated, just like blaming others and the past to hide their own inefficiency... The hypnosis of repeating that brilliant accomplishments have been made through the current populist model and that it will achieve even better results is confusing although convincing. Meanwhile, we are all satisfied with the mediocrity of moving aimlessly. "... In such a framework, one may not expect genuine and abundant investment nor can we Argentines expect that the billions of dollars sent abroad will ever return to the country... "The democratic (non populist) socialist model of Chile, Brazil and Uruguay is free from all the vices mentioned. They do not practice the hypnosis of personalism, they do not manipulate the media, they do not use their budget in a discretionary way, they do not encourage hatred, they do not despise the rule of law, they do not infringe on judicial stability, they do not disqualify opponents, they do not scare investment away but encourage it..., they are open to world trade, they do not distort C.O.L rates to deceive citizens, and they are even careful of language. This is why they grow faster, are predictable and more reliable." - "The wealthy countries' global debt" Leading "Clarin" editorializes (06/15) "The G8 summit held in Germany this year had more impact due to circumstances than to real progress, which was certainly limited regarding its central issue, climate change. "The disagreement between the US and Germany resulted in a minor commitment to lowering green gas house emissions. Western European countries proposed a 50 per cent reduction by 2050, but the USG is against assuming specific goals that will not include growing countries and emerging powers like China and India. "For the time being, wealthy countries are again in debt with respect to expectations. They dishonored the Millennium Development Objectives regarding cooperation on developing countries... The focus of attention shifted from the social and climate agenda to the strategic choice of building an antimissile shield, which re-established arm-wrestling between the US and Russia." - "The US - the visa system is reported to change only by the end of the year" Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," writes (06/15) "Argentines who are interested in traveling to the US without a visa will have to be patient and not be disappointed if they cannot do it in the short or medium term. As reported yesterday by 'Clarin,' the legislation that could allow Argentina's entry into the Visa Waiver Program has already been approved by the US Senate. An assistant to Republican Senator George Voinovich told 'Clarin' 'It still has to be passed by the Lower House and some aspects of the legislation will need to be reconciled in conference.' 'We think that, if everything is OK, the legislation will be in force by the end of the year.' "Meanwhile, the Press Office of the US Embassy in Buenos Aires issued a release highlighting that 'no change has been introduced to the Visa Waiver Program yet, and Argentine citizens traveling to the US still need a visa.'" To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires MATERA