ARGENTINA: FEBRUARY 9 BURNS/SHANNON MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BUENOS AIRES 000411

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR P HEIDE BRONKE
WHA FOR TOM SHANNON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PTER AA ASEC ETRD IAEA CU HA
IR, XF, CO, VZ, DP, AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: FEBRUARY 9 BURNS/SHANNON MEETING WITH
FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS

REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 000173


B. SECSTATE 16451

C. SECSTATE 15808

Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1.(C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana,s working
lunch for U/S Burns and delegation February 9 provided an
opportunity for consultation on a wide range of foreign
policy priorities. U/S Burns raised several areas for
improved cooperation between the U.S. and Argentina: Haiti,
Cuba, Bolivia, GOA participation in a NATO peacekeeping
initiative, and a U.S.-Russian nuclear terrorism initiative.
He also clarified the U.S. position on Venezuela, the
follow-on to Plan Colombia, Iran, and the Middle East peace
process. Taiana and members of his delegation reiterated the
message that Argentina seeks a respectful and cooperative
relationship with the U.S., raised concerns over the Doha
round, and discussed specific issues of regional stability.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) U.S. Participants:
-- Under Secretary for Political Affairs R. Nicolas Burns
-- Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Thomas Shannon
-- Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne
-- DCM Michael Matera
-- William McIlhenny, Member, Policy Planning Council (S/P)
-- Heide Bronke, P Special Assistant
-- Michelle Baldwin, Notetaker

Argentine Participants:
-- Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana
-- Vice Foreign Minister Roberto Garcia Moritan
-- Secretary for International Trade Alfredo Chiaradia
-- Under Secretary for Economic Integration and Mercosur
Eduardo Sigal
-- Under Secretary for Foreign Policy Luis Capaggli
-- Under Secretary for Latin America Agustine Colombo
Sierra
-- Director General for North American Affairs Vicente
Espeche Gil
-- Chief of Staff of FM Taiana, Alberto D'Alotto
-- Maria Belen Garcia Alcat, Notetaker


3. (C) On February 9, Under Secretary Burns, Assistant
Secretary Shannon, and Ambassador Wayne, met with Argentine

SIPDIS
Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, both in a small restricted
meeting (see septel) and in a broader discussion over lunch.
Taiana welcomed the USG delegation and praised the close
relations between Argentina and the U.S.

--------------
Doha Round
--------------


4. (C) Taiana asked Foreign Ministry Trade Secretary Alfredo
Chiaradia to open the conversation with his views on the Doha
round. Chiaradia emphasized the importance of agriculture to
Argentina and other developing countries and that a
successful round will require "sensible" trade-offs that are
balanced and fair. Repeating arguments he made two weeks
earlier to Deputy USTR John Veroneau (see reftel A),
Chiaradia said that Argentina could not agree to developed
nation demands for NAMA tariff cuts in the 70 percent range.
He made it clear that Argentina would not succumb to a
negotiating process whereby a small group reached agreement
and expected others to follow. He added that the GOA shares
our desire for increased agricultural access from developing
countries. On bilateral trade issues, Chiaradia said he is
"quite happy" with the progress of trade relations,
particularly after GSP was renewed for Argentina. On the
regional level, he noted that Argentina wants to protect
Mercosur because the organization plays an important role in
"balancing" South America.


5. (C) Ambassador Wayne said that President Bush had made it
clear that a positive outcome in the Doha round is a USG
priority. He noted that everyone will have to give up some
part of their positions to reach an agreement, but that some

BUENOS AIR 00000411 002 OF 004


countries are not willing to take the necessary steps. On
bilateral trade issues, he noted the U.S. desire for better
IPR protection in Argentina.

--------------
Haiti
--------------


6. (C) U/S Burns explained that the U.S. is providing
increased economic aid for Haiti to help sustain MINUSTAH,
the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, and to
ensure the stability of the Preval government. Vice FM
Garcia Moritan said that Argentina is planning to be more
active on Haiti. He said that the GOA will attend a South
American initiative meeting in Lima in early March that will,
among other actions, discuss calling for a UNSC special
session on Haiti. Garcia Moritan said that the group would
like to approach the new UNSC president in March to raise
attention for Haiti. U/S Burns expressed U.S. support for
this initiative. Garcia Moritan added, however, that
Argentina cannot maintain troops in Haiti forever, as in the
case of Cyprus, and that further progress needs to be seen in
the coming months.


7. (C) U/S Burns raised the importance of a one-year
extension of the MINUSTAH mandate (see reftel C) and asked
the FM to intervene with the Chinese to help encourage their
support. The FM said Argentina would weigh in with the
Chinese.

--------------
Cuba
--------------


8. (C) U/S Burns expressed the U.S. hope that Argentina will
lead Latin America in encouraging democracy and human rights
in Cuba. He underscored the need for partners in the
hemisphere to maintain a dialogue on Cuba and encourage a
peaceful transition to democracy. A/S Shannon urged
Argentina to push Cuba to release its political prisoners.
Garcia Moritan suggested that U.S. legislation would have to
change in order to facilitate more economic openness in Cuba.
He said that if there were a broader scenario of openness
toward Cuba, it would be easier for Latin America to
participate in democratization efforts. Ambassador Wayne and
A/S Shannon replied that Latin American leadership on these
issues was important for creating new opportunities.

--------------
Bolivia
--------------


9. (C) U/S Burns explained that the State Department had
five months ago agreed to the renewal of counternarcotics
(CN) assistance to Bolivia, but that we were only one month
away from having to repeat the certification process. He
said that the U.S. did not see any indication that Bolivian
President Evo Morales had made a real effort to reduce coca
plantings, which would make recertification difficult. U/S
Burns asked Taiana for advice on how to engage Bolivia on the
drug issue. Taiana said that this is a complicated issue for
Argentina as well; both coca production and import are
illegal in Argentina, but there is a coca chewing tradition
in the northern provinces. Given this, Morales is asking
Argentina to accept exports from Bolivia. Garcia Moritan
said that the GOA shares U.S. concerns over drug trafficking
in Bolivia. Ambassador Wayne noted the rising Argentine
consumption of paco, a cocaine residual byproduct, and its
consequences on crime and public health. Garcia Moritan
said that this epidemic is on the top of the GOA agenda.

--------------
Colombia
--------------


10. (C) U/S Burns explained the Administration's efforts to
renew Plan Colombia this year and the importance it has on
stemming global drug flows. He said that the plan has
received significant support from the U.S. Congress, though
questions remain as to military abuses and human rights

BUENOS AIR 00000411 003 OF 004


violations in Colombia. He mentioned that Colombia still
needs to demonstrate that its judicial system is effectively
trying and prosecuting criminals. He underscored U.S.
concerns about cross-border drug flows into Venezuela and how
Hugo Chavez might be exacerbating the problem. A/S Shannon
explained that we are seeing increasing political ties
between the FARC/ELN and Chavez's administration. Taiana
said that he believes the FARC had political origins, but
that now their activity appears to be little more than
trying to survive on drug trafficking.

--------------
Iran
--------------


11. (C) On non-regional issues, U/S Burns made clear that
the U.S. has no intention to go to war with Iran. He
explained that the U.S. is solely focused on a diplomatic
solution to the current nuclear arms crisis with Iran. He
also said that U.S. troops have detained some Iranians in
Iraq because they were teaching explosive technology to
Iraqis and causing the deaths of U.S. troops. Taiana said he
was pleased to hear about the USG commitment to a diplomatic
solution to the crisis with Iran and agreed fully with this
approach. He stressed the need for the international
community to work together to engage Iran. U/S Burns said
that Iran is violating the directives of the IAEA and is
likely to make an announcement of further nuclear
developments on the upcoming anniversary of their revolution.
Burns noted that the U.S. is working with Russia on a second
draft UNSC resolution aimed at pushing Iran towards
negotiations. China and Russia agree that we cannot sit by
and do nothing while Iran continues nuclear research.

--------------
NATO Peacekeeping Partnership
--------------


12. (C) U/S Burns raised a recent NATO initiative to
establish a global partnership with countries that are
effective in peacekeeping missions. He noted that Brazil and
Argentina should be included in this partnership based on
their demonstrated peacekeeping performance. However, U/S
Burns said that he understood from press coverage that
Argentina has withdrawn its defense attach from Brussels
(and SACEUR),which would make it much more difficult to
coordinate this partnership. Garcia Moritan explained that
the GOA was studying the redeployment of military attachs
worldwide to provide broader coverage, including in many
locations that now do not have military attachs. Taiana
explained that the GOA had no intention of cutting ties with
NATO but that it is becoming politically difficult to
maintain Argentine troops in non-UN peacekeeping missions.
As an example, he indicated that Argentina will be
"redeploying" its peacekeeping force in Kosovo. He said that
they were not abandoning their peacekeeping efforts, just
redeploying the forces. He said Argentina would find a way
to maintain its links with NATO.

--------------
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
--------------


13. (C) U/S Burns raised the Global Initiative to Combat
Nuclear Terrorism (reftel B) and invited the GOA to sign on
to the principles of the initiative and to participate.
Both Taiana and Garcia Moritan were interested in learning
more about the initiative and how the GOA could participate.
Non-papers provided in reftel B were left with the MFA.

--------------
Middle East Peace
--------------


14. (C) Garcia Moritan asked how the U.S. sees the situation
in the Middle East. U/S Burns briefed the group on the
evolving USG approach to the Middle East peace process,
including Secretary Rice's upcoming trip to the region to
explore means for a new push to resolve the Arab-Israeli
conflict. Burns said that Secretary Rice looked forward to

BUENOS AIR 00000411 004 OF 004


discussing the new approach with Taiana when he visits
Washington in the near future.

--------------
Ethanol/Biofuels
--------------


15. (SBU) Foreign Trade Secretary Chiaradia asked about
talks on ethanol in Brazil and indicated that the GOA is
interested in participating in any USG initiative to promote
the global production of ethanol. U/S Burns said that he had
already publicly welcomed Argentine participation in biofuels
initiatives in his speech earlier that day at the Argentine
Council for International Relations (CARI),and expressed
hope we could develop a dialogue to take cooperation forward.

WAYNE