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