MEDIA REACTION; KIRCHNER'S ADDRESS TO THE UNGA; ARGENTINE

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001938 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 SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; KIRCHNER'S ADDRESS TO THE UNGA; ARGENTINE FIRST LADY SPEECH AT THE COA; ARGENTINA'S INTERNATIONAL TIES; 09/27/07 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's leading international stories include Argentine President Nstor Kirchner's tough talk against Iran at the UNGA; chances that Cristina Kirchner could be received by US President Bush if she wins the Argentine presidency; the US business community reaction to Senator and Presidential Candidate Cristina Kirchner's address to the Council of the Americas; and Argentina's current international relations. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - Iron fist against Iran" Liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald" editorializes (09/27) "President Nstor Kirchner's tough talk against Iran at the UNGA on Tuesday is all the more remarkable because there was no real attempt at ideological balance by handing out a comparable tongue-lashing to US President George W. Bush (increasingly the choice target for criticism worldwide)... Kirchner did criticize Bush's Iraq venture in 'I told you so' tones about the virtues of multilateralism but this multilateral logic makes it all the more incumbent on countries like Argentina to join in the crackdown against Iran in order to avoid repeating unilateral errors... "The tone of Kirchner's speech was in many ways dictated by its context - by presences and absences alike. The only possible factor modifying Kirchner's severity against Iran would be the latter's newfound ally Hugo Chvez of Venezuela, whose fuel and cash injections into Argentina have been increasingly valuable props for the Kirchner presidency in recent years. But Chvez was strangely absent... while Bush, who was present, was mute on the subject of Iran, thus making it easier for Kirchner to criticize Iran without going down any US-led warpath. This combination of factors plus the presence of First Lady Cristina Fernndez de Kirchner (with her carefully fostered ties with the New York Jewish community) should make it no surprise if Kirchner's speech was stiffly worded enough to satisfy all Jewish community leaders present. "Nothing else in the speech (neither the compulsive criticisms of the IMF nor the vague comments on UN Security Council reform) merit further comment - even the anti-British statements did not go beyond what could be expected from all weekend's media ripple over South Atlantic territorial waters in the 25th anniversary of the Malvinas war - but Kirchner's tough talk to Iran deserves praise for its courage and clarity." - "If Cristina wins, she could well be received by Bush" Ana Barsn, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarn," comments (09/27) "After the distancing that resulted from the Chvez-led anti-Bush rally in Argentina, a high-ranking US State Department official acknowledged to 'Clarn' that it was they who asked for a meeting between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and FM Jorge Taiana, which will happen tomorrow. Furthermore, the source did not dismiss the possibility that if Cristina wins the election, George W. Bush could receive her before she takes office. "... 'Clarn' was able to confirm that the US is concerned over 'Iran's infiltration in Latin America and the way in which Chvez convinced Evo Morales to re-establish ties to Tehran.' Because of this, rather than because of what it could mean in the Middle East conflict, Kirchner's anti-Iran posture is highly valued. "The US will support the request for the capture of the Iranians at Interpol because it managed to remove from the list the three Iranians who were government officials (former president Al Rafsanjani, former FM Al Akbar Velayati and former Ambassador Hadi Solemainpour). (The US) does not want to set a precedent and pave the way for the request of Donald Rumsfeld's capture, for example." - "Many investors left bothered and with no responses" Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based for daily-of-record "La Nacisn," writes (09/27) "... Neither Cristina's speech nor the Q&A session included any mention of the situation at the INDEC national statistics agency, price controls, the continuing defaulted debt nor public utility rates, among other topics for which analysts sent written questions but that no one ever read. "This set off an apparent malaise among the guests. Daniel Kernel, analyst for the Southern Cone for Eurasia Group, the world's leading global political consulting firm, said: 'It was disrespectful. Her address left as many doubts in the air as those we had before the event.' 'We did not expect her to say much, but she could have conveyed good signals, for example, about inflation or public utility rates.' "Other eight Wall Street analysts and businessmen consulted by 'La Nacisn' after the luncheon repeated the same complaints, under condition of anonymity. One of them said: 'Those who thought that she was going to announce something strong were wrong, although the good thing is that she showed a pro-business attitude, but she said nothing about INDEC or holdouts and that was not good.'" - "Globalization and Argentina's international relations" Business-financial "Buenos Aires Econsmico-BAE" front-pages an opinion piece by its editorial director and prestigious economist Aldo Ferrer, who writes (09/27) "... In a global world, Argentina should establish ties that are functional to the deployment of its potential development... How to do this is a crucial dilemma for which Argentina has two alternate possibilities, one coming from neo-liberalism and the other towards the achievement of national development. "... Argentina is currently a country that respects international law; it has regained control over its own destiny in a global world and has confirmed its democratic form of government. "International relations are not idyllic, and conflicts could naturally appear between Argentina and other countries in the defense of national interests on issues such as the environment, IPR, finances or the trade regime. These are normal problems and under no circumstances involve any risk of rupture with any country or pose a threat to Argentine interests. The country's current international ties are functional to the deployment of its potential development and to an effective and realistic defense of its sovereignty." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE