MEDIA REACTION; ARGENTINE PARIS CLUB DEBT; PRESS FREEDOM;

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001996 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; ARGENTINE PARIS CLUB DEBT; PRESS FREEDOM; PAINFUL INTERROGATION TACTICS; 10/05/07 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's leading international stories cover the IMF waiting until after Argentine presidential elections to engage on Paris Club debt issues; media owners charging that press freedom is curtailed in Argentina; and commentary on the USG reportedly authorizing painful interrogation tactics against terror suspects. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - "The IMF will wait until a new Argentine president is elected before supporting Paris Club debt negotiations" Ana Barsn, leading "Clarn's" Washington-based correspondent, writes (10/04) "In spite of the progress made by the Argentine diplomacy in the political field, no one expects in Washington that Argentina and the IMF can reach an understanding that will unblock negotiations with the Paris Club before the new Argentine Government takes over in December. "In response to a question on this issue, the IMF spoksperson, Masood Ahmed went right to the point: 'We continue holding regular productive talks with Argentine Government officials and I can anticipate that we'll start next consultations in the framework of Section 4 shortly after the new government takes over.' "Following the meeting between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and FM Jorge Taiana, the Department of State made it clear that Argentina could negotiate (the settlement of its debt to) the Paris Club without a formal deal with the IMF that could impose conditionality. A USG official said 'However, you have to reach a political understanding.' "The IMF told 'Clarn' that the 'understanding' will probably focus on the so-called reinforced Section 4, along the lines of that implemented in Brazil in 1994. This means that the IMF could review the Argentine economy every six months instead of once a year. "If this is true, Masood's remarks indicate that nothing will really change until the new government takes over." - "The White House is reported to have secretly authorized torture in interrogations" Hugo Alconada Mon, daily-of-record "La Nacisn's" Washington-based correspondent, writes (10/05) "According to 'The New York Times,' in the shadows, without reporting to Congress and contradicting its official posture and a new anti-torture federal law, the Bush administration issued two documents whereby it authorized harsh interrogation tactics implemented by the CIA. "The first document was signed in February 2005 shortly after the arrival of controversial legal advisor to the White House, Alberto Gonzales, to the US Department of Justice... "While the White House's spokesperson, Dana Perino, confirmed the existence of that memorandum and a similar one, which are still in force, she denied that the US promotes the torture of suspects in the global war on terrorism started after the September 11 attacks. "The Democratic opposition reacted with rage at the news. It promised new investigations and Congressional hearings to determine the extent of those documents, which have been unknown so far, and to determine whether Gonzales infringed on some legislation, just like his bosses at the White House." - "Concerns over restrictions on press freedom" Leading "Clarn" editorializes (10/05) "During a recent meeting of ADEPA (Asociacisn de Entidades Periodsticas Argentinas/Association of Argentine Journalistic Institutions),concerns over the governmental restrictions imposed on the media were made manifest. "On different occasions, different sectors of the government expressed disgust over journalistic opinions or investigations that unveiled crimes or misdemeanors committed by the government. "... The report also criticizes the discretionary use of public resources, such as those used in official publicity. "It praises the Supreme Court's statement in favor of strengthening dialogue in order to create a fluent communication between the government and society through the media..." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE