GOA REACTION TO TIP REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001185 SIPDIS SIPDIS G/TIP FOR BARBARA FLECK WHA/PPC FOR MIKE PUCCETTI WHA/BSC FOR DREW BLAKENEY VILNIUS FOR KELLY GUATEMALA FOR FEATHERSTONE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2017 TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG KWMN PGOV AR SUBJECT: GOA REACTION TO TIP REPORT REF: STATE 71163 Classified By: CDA Michael M. Matera for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. While there has been no public GOA reaction yet, GOA private reaction to the USG's 2007 TIP report was very negative. Vicente Espeche Gil, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary for Bilateral Affairs, called the report "unhelpful" and Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez expressed displeasure at the content of the report. Press coverage of our annual TIP report was generally balanced. Negotiations on sending TIP legislation are on-going, and the Interior Minister met with key legislators to hammer out a compromise on June 14. Our contacts report that the Interior Minister committed the Executive branch to signing an executive decree establishing a national anti-trafficking program aimed at prevention and victim's assistance. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On June 11, CDA Matera and poloff called on Vicente Espeche Gil, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary for Bilateral Foreign Policy, to deliver reftel points and the 2007 Trafficking in Persons report. Espeche Gil thanked the CDA for informing the MFA and sharing the report prior to its release. Espeche Gil characterized the TIP report process as "paternalistic", but understood that the report is mandated by the U.S. Congress. Although he acknowledged that the USG's annual reports on similar issues such as human rights helped to highlight Argentina's situation during the military dictatorship of the 1970s, he stressed that the TIP report's criticism of the GOA's anti-trafficking efforts is unfounded now that Argentina is a full democracy. He offered MFA support to assist the Embassy's efforts in obtaining meetings with other relevant GOA Ministries and agencies to discuss the GOA's anti-trafficking efforts. The CDA welcomed the offer and noted that this would enhance our understanding of GOA efforts to combat the problem and strengthen cooperation on the issue. Espeche Gil closed by asserting that it is in the GOA's interest to improve Argentina's anti-trafficking regime to meet international norms. U/S Espeche Gil was accompanied by Ana Bertha, Deputy Director of International Organizations, Diana Berruhet Office Director of Women's Affairs, Alejandra Morales of Consular Affairs, Soledad Figuera of the Human Rights Directorate, and Hernan Santivanez, U.S. Desk Officer. ¶3. (C) On June 11, Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez called CDA Matera to express his displeasure with the content of the report. He asserted that the USG does not understand Argentina's political realities in terms of what kind of anti-TIP legislation can be passed in the Argentine Congress. The CDA explained that we understood the political sensitivies surrounding the issue. No one expects a perfect law, he stated, adding that the important thing is to see legislation passed finally after long delays already experienced. ¶4. (C) In a subsequent conversation with CDA on June 12, Espeche Gil objected to the TIP report's conclusion that the GOA "does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking" and the recommendation that the GOA should "curb official complicity in trafficking". CDA pointed out that the report further explains that official complicity is almost exclusively at the provincial and local levels, where it is truly an issue of concern, as reported by the International Organization for Migration and Argentine NGOs. He also noted that the USG publishes a similar report evaluating our own efforts to combat trafficking, and that this is a problem that all countries face and must address. ¶5. (C) Post and Department officials answered questions from Argentine journalists on the report on the day of its release to provide context and ensure accurate reporting. The result was balanced coverage that prompted no negative public reaction from the GOA. ¶6. (C) Our contacts have told us that Minister Fernandez met with key legislators including Senator Vilma Ibarra and Deputy Cordoba (authors of the two main anti-TIP bills currently under debate in the Argentine Congress) on June 14. They report that, during the meeting, Minister Fernandez committed the Executive branch to signing an executive decree establishing a national anti-trafficking program aimed at prevention and victim's assistance. They did not have any information on whether or not the issue of victim's consent was discussed. One local NGO representative told poloff that many NGOs are prepared to declare the bill unconstitutional if it does not state that victim's consent is irrelevant regardless of age. Post will continue to report on new legislative developments to pass anti-TIP legislation. MATERA