ARGENTINA REQUESTS AGREMENT FOR HECTOR TIMERMAN

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002270 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OFDP PINR AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA REQUESTS AGREMENT FOR HECTOR TIMERMAN ¶1. (SBU) Action Request -- para 4. ¶2. (SBU) The Foreign Ministry convoked the Ambassador November 28, 2007 to present a diplomatic note dated the previous day from the MFA requesting U.S. agrement for the appointment of Hector Timerman as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Argentina in the United States of America. Embassy has forwarded to WHA/BSC a scanned version of the diplomatic note via email. Timerman has served since July 2004 as Argentine Consul General in New York. In para 3, post provides text of its informal translation of Timerman's curriculum vitae enclosed with the diplomatic note. ¶3. (SBU) Informal translation of Timerman's curriculum vitae: Hector Marcos Timerman -------------- In May 2004, the National Executive Branch, with the agreement of the Senate, appointed Mr. Timerman Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Argentine Republic. Ambassador Timerman has served as the Argentine Consul General and Director of the New York Promotion Center in New York since July ¶2004. Also, Mr. Timerman chairs the Board of Directors of the International Coalition of Historic Sites of Memory. He is a co-founder of Human Rights Watch. He holds a Masters degree in International Relations from Columbia University, NY. He has served as member of the board of directors of the following organizations: America's Watch Committee (New York, 1981-1989) Fund for Free Expression (London, 1983-1989) Human Rights General Assembly (Buenos Aires, 2002-2004) Throughout his extensive career as journalist, Hector Timerman wrote for various newspapers and audio-visual media. In the United States, he has written articles for the New York Times, Newsweek magazine, and The Nation, among others, and has frequently delivered speeches to several organizations and universities of New York (1979-1983) and (2005-2006). Mr. Timerman is co-author of the book "Torture" (New Press, 2005). In Argentina, he was a columnist for "Noticias" magazine, for daily "Ambito Financiero," and co-director of "Debate" magazine; he also conducted TV and radio shows. Ambassador-designate Hector Timerman received political asylum in the U.S. during the Carter and Reagan administrations. Ambassador Hector Timerman was born on December 16, 1953, in Buenos Aires. He is married to architect Anabelle Sielecki and they have two daughters, Amanda (1983) and Jordana (1984),who were born in New York. ¶4. (SBU) Post requests Department's prompt consideration of Argentine request for agrement and guidance as to how to respond to GOA diplomatic note. WAYNE