ARGENTINA TO WORK CLOSELY ON TIP ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001476 SIPDIS SIPDIS G/TIP FOR BARBARA FLECK G/TIP FOR KATIE BRESNAHAN WHA/PPC FOR MIKE PUCCETTI/SCOTT MILLER WHA/BSC FOR DREW BLAKENEY/KENDALL MOSS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2017 TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG KWMN PGOV AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA TO WORK CLOSELY ON TIP ISSUES REF: STATE 104135 Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On July 30, poloff delivered reftel points to MFA Deputy Director for International Organizations Ana Berta and U.S. Desk Officer Hernan Santivanez. Berta stated that while the Argentine government does not appreciate the "paternalistic" nature of the TIP report, it is committed to working with the Department to combat human trafficking. She stated that she would share the Department's recommendations with relevant agencies. Santivanez explained that since GOA efforts to combat TIP cut across a variety of agencies, it would be best for the MFA to serve as the Embassy's focal point for requesting meetings and distributing TIP questionnaires in the future. He indicated that while there may be a number of officials who have helped the Embassy obtain information in the past, there are other officials who are wary of US Embassy interest in their programs. If the MFA requests appointments on the Embassy's behalf and accompanies poloff to the meetings, it would give other officials a measure of assurance that the GOA considers bilateral cooperation in this area a priority, he argued. ¶2. (C) In reference to the Department's non-paper, Berta noted that: 1) the GOA has a national hotline in place to field inquiries and reports of TIP cases that is hosted by the National Institute for Anti-Discrimination (INADI); 2) the MFA has taken the lead in introducing TIP issues in the Mercosur agenda; and 3) the MFA recently hosted an anti-TIP seminar as well as a conference on promoting policies to stop violence against women co-sponsored by the Organization of American States. Berta reiterated the MFA's offer to facilitate meetings between poloff and government agencies that are working on TIP issues. Poloff thanked Berta for the offer and pledged to work closely with her office in the months ahead to strengthen GOA efforts to combat TIP. WAYNE