BOTH KIRCHNERS NOW ON THE WARPATH: "WE WILL NOT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002359

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SNAR CJAN KJUS ASEC KPAO VE AR
SUBJECT: BOTH KIRCHNERS NOW ON THE WARPATH: "WE WILL NOT
BE CRUSHED"

REF: (A) BUENOS AIRES 2346 (B) BUENOS AIRES 2345 (C)

BUENOS AIRES 2336 (D) BUENOS AIRES 2331


1. (SBU) Summary and Introduction: President Cristina
Fernandez de Kirchner (CFK) and her husband, former president
Nestor Kirchner (NK),came out swinging against the United
States -- she in Montevideo, he in Buenos Aires -- on
December 18, hours before the Ambassador was scheduled to
meet with FM Taiana at this summons. Nestor Kirchner
disputed the Ambassador's assertion that bilateral relations
were positive, and said U.S. actions were "shameful." End
summary.

Pouring Kerosene on the Fire
--------------


2. (SBU) At the December 18 Mercosur summit in Montevideo,
CFK reiterated her harsh criticism of the U.S. (reftels) for
implicating her in the case of four Venezuelans and one
Uruguayan charged with operating as unregistered foreign
agents. Repeating her line about the U.S. wanting
"subordinate client states," she added, "They will not crush
us, we will continue struggling for the deepening of
Mercosur, we will continue lobbying for a multipolar world."


3. (SBU) CFK said the top priority for Argentina's pro
tempore presidency of Mercosur, which began at this summit,
was the incorporation of the BRV into the customs union.


4. (SBU) Without naming the United States, CFK said "there
are some who make politics from within and from outside our
countries who are those who make dirty politics and
operations in the region." She noted that Latin America had
"managed to survive the neoliberal tragedy. It managed to
survive the adoption of neoliberal policies. We were a
laboratory, we were guinea pigs for policies designed to make
the state disappear."

The First Gentleman Surfaces
--------------


5. (SBU) Former president Nestor Kirchner used his first
public remarks since leaving office to slam the United
States, saying it was "shameful" what the U.S. was doing to
Argentina, adding that "this is not a colony." Like his
wife's Mercosur statements, Kirchner's remarks at a December
18 lunch for a local utility were immediately broadcast and
reported on major media websites.


6. (SBU) Recalling that the Ambassador had said "relations
with Argentina are good," Kirchner countered, "I am saying to
him that they are not good, with what they are doing to us."
He reiterated GOA insinuations that the Miami arrests were
motivated by Washington's concern about the creation of
Chavez-inspired Banco del Sur, the consolidation of Mercosur,
and Argentina's economic policy framework. "They're also
worried that we condemn terrorism but do not accept the
violations of human rights such as those that occur at
Guantanamo, which is shameful."


7. (SBU) Calling again for the U.S. to extradite Antonini,
Kirchner said, "Send us the fugitive. Argentines want to
know the truth about what happened." Kirchner also said
"Argentines are getting bruised by a bunch of gangsters."

WAYNE