MEDIA REACTION; KIRCHNER-CHAVEZ, LULA-BUSH-TABARE, IRAN,

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000367 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 MEDIA REACTION SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; KIRCHNER-CHAVEZ, LULA-BUSH-TABARE, IRAN, 02/2607; BUENOS AIRES ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Key stories focus on President Kirchner's ambivalence in his policy vis-`-vis the U.S. regarding Chavez, President Bush's trip to the region, with media speculating on biofuels as the main reason for his visit, and repercussions of Iran's challenge to UNSC ultimatum. ¶2. OPINION PIECES - "Kirchner Invites Chavez, Who Will Lead Anti-Bush Rally" Mariano Obarrio, daily-of-record "La Nacion" political columnist, writes (02/24) "President Kirchner will receive Hugo Chavez in two weeks in an attempt to give continuity to the bilateral agenda which he resumed in Puerto Ordaz and send a strong message of rejection to the presence of George W. Bush in the region, when he visits Uruguay shortly. ".... Both Kirchner and Chavez will organize a bilateral meeting in Buenos Aires and then, the Bolivarian leader will address a multitude of picketers in a rally against President Bush. ".... Government House - through Secretary Parrilli - summoned pro-Kirchner picketers and social movements to welcome Chavez and next Tuesday they will get together to finalize the details of the organization. ".... The anti-Bush act -- and another rally in support of the inauguration of this year's sessions in Congress -- takes place in the framework of the campaign launched by Kirchner in an election year. "'It's time to give elections a 'leftist' tinge. Bush has a bad image here and in the region. Though this doesn't mean we're breaking ties with the U.S., or anything like that,' said a pro-Kirchner leader. ".... Of course, Chavez will be the key-note speaker at this rally in which he will totally reject Bush, in a new 'anti-summit', similar to the one which took place in Mar del Plata. ".... That hostility towards the U.S. visitor is precisely one of the reasons why Bush won't step in Argentina again...." - "Ominous Campaign" Eduardo Van der Kooy, leading "Clarin" political analyst, opines (02/25) ".... Oftentimes, Kirchner's silences and gestures are more valuable than his speeches. This occurs in his relations with Chavez. The Argentine leader firmly declared in Caracas his duty is not to control Venezuela's strong-man, as Washington wants. The Venezuelan needed this concession in front of his people. But U/S Burns expressed to Secretary Rice his satisfaction with the guarantees he received in Buenos Aires and Brasilia on Venezuela and Bolivia. "Chavez again criticized Bush and White House foreign policy. But during the launch of the first oil well in the Orinoco Basin, he hailed his country's sales commitments, which include the U.S. ".... This gap between rhetoric and action identifies both Kirchner and Chavez. Although Kirchner, every now and then, makes other gestures - such as putting distance with Iran - which tend to tone down that resemblance and avoid confusion." - "Kirchner's Constant Ambivalence" Joaquin Morales Sola, dailyof-record "La Nacion" political analyst, says (02/25) ".... The major problem with Chavez is not Washington, as the GOA believes. But rather the answers to some key questions: are the dollars that the Venezuelan leader lavishly spills on Argentina the only important issue? Or is it also worth while to preserve democracy and its institutions around the world? ".... The problem with Kirchner is that his public rhetoric creates an image of ambivalence in the world while the content of his private conversations comes late, when the image is already installed. Close to Kirchner's entourage they say 'there was never an attitude against the U.S.' But this came too late, because news of Kirchner challenging the U.S. had been released worldwide...." - "Visits" Marcelo Cantelmi, leading "Clarin" international editor, opines (02/26) "... Lula's visit to Uruguay is directly linked with Bush's regional tour. The Brazilian is trying to stop his colleague Tabare -- tempted by a hardly feasible agreement with the U.S. - from taking a step which will cause serious and irreversible damage to Mercosur... Bush, who no longer has the power to make these trade deals, will meet with both during a visit whose only and strategic goal are biofuels. Those who believe that, with this trip, the White House changes its agenda and rediscovers Latin America, lose track of Washington's interests. Lula seems pretty clear about his own." ¶3. EDITORIALS - "Iran Challenges the West" An editorial in independent "La Prensa" reads (02/26) "Iran has decided to challenge Western powers. It disregarded UN ultimatum and the theocratic regime not only refused to call off its uranium enrichment process but decided to increase it, according to a tough IAEA report. This forecasts another confrontation in the world's most dangerous region. ".... The ball is back in the UNSC court. Once again, Russia and China's attitude is a question mark, because it seems there are no divisions between the U.S. and Europe in this case. An Iranian nuclear bomb doesn't seem to be convenient for any superpower. But the gist of the problem is how to persuade, with civilized means, the ayatollahs that having WMD is bad business in the long run. The recent and successful negotiations with North Korea - another irresponsible State - open a window of hope." 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