MEDIA REACTION; HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, U.S. FARMING

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000439 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; HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, U.S. FARMING LEGISLATION, 03/07/07; BUENOS AIRES ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT The press report on the Human Rights Report, focusing mainly on the U.S. mention of GOA pressures on Argentina's press. Stories also note the report says Argentina has "generally" respected human rights. ¶2. OPINION PIECES "U.S. Denounces GOA Pressures on Argentine Press" Leonardo Mindez, leading "Clarin" New York-based contributor, opines (03/07) "The State Department echoed other foreign voices who are calling attention on the Argentine government's treatment of the press. Argentina's chapter of the 2006 human rights report stresses that 'independent media, non governmental organizations and international organizations have complained about the lack of transparency and control in the distribution of government advertising by the federal government.' "The timing of the report, which targets Cuba and Venezuela as the countries with the most severe violations of civil and individual rights in the continent, is not the best for Washington, as the United States itself is under scrutiny for its own human rights record." "U.S. Says Argentina Puts Pressure on the Media" The financial newspaper Ambito Financiero reports (03-07),"The United States acknowledged for the first time faults in relations to human rights, especially linked to the war on terror. "About the Southern Block, the White House stated that Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay have 'generally' respected human rights during 2006, although there continued to be some problems regarding impunity and abuse of power. "According to the US, last year there was in Argentina 'some weakening in the independence of the Legislative and Judicial branches of power, and pressure on the media." "Washington Sees Institutional Weakening in Argentina" Conservative, century-old La Prensa reports, "The Argentine government has 'generally' respected human rights last year, the State Department concluded in its annual report, which was published yesterday. "The report by the US Foreign Service assesses 190 countries in the world ... and places Cuba and Venezuela at the top of the region's black list. "In the case of Argentina, the report highlights the government's decision to resume court investigations into military and police officers that had been frozen by amnesty legislation, but cites allegations of murder and police brutality that 'the government probed but failed to punish', a prison situation 'below the standards' and 'long detentions' prior to trials." ¶3. EDITORIALS Daily-of-record La Nacion prints an editorial on new farming legislation submitted to Congress by President George W. Bush, which reads, "The new farming legislation scales back on subsidies but falls short of curbing the protectionist policy which were born in the 1930s and expanded in the last few decades." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE