MEDIA REACTION; HUMAN RIGHTS; ECUADOR; 03/14/07; BUENOS

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000492 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; ECUADOR; 03/14/07; BUENOS AIRES ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's most important international stories include leading "Clarin's" interview with Tex Harris, former US political counselor under the Carter administration, who attended a seminar on human rights in Buenos Aires; and the political crisis in Ecuador. ¶2. OPINION PIECES - "Tex Harris - 'The 'Never Again' human rights message should be spread around the world'" Natasha Niebieskikwiat, political columnist of leading "Clarin," writes (03/14) "Allen 'Tex' Harris returned once again to Argentina, where he acted as political counselor of the US Embassy under the Carter administration. His action as such was crucial to help leak denunciation and reports on 'missing people' and other human rights violations committed during the military dictatorship. "... Harris returned to the country to attend a seminar on International Solidarity as a special invitee... "Asked how the US views President Nestor Kirchner's human rights policy, Harris said that 'President Kirchner's message in this regard is most important. He should continue spreading the 'Never Again' statement everywhere and, thank God, he is doing so.' "Asked whether President Kirchner is viewed as a turning point on judicial matters, Harris said 'The Kirchner administration is seen as a critical spokesperson all over the world of the horrible consequences of human rights violations. During the seminar, we spoke about the Rome of 65 BC (when civil liberties were eliminated),of the Argentina of 1976 and the US of this century, and how a government targets a low although lethal level of terrorist threat in the world. And we notice that the lessons learned on human rights are critical in Rome, in Argentina and in the US of today.' "On the US 'crusade' in Iraq, Harris answered 'This is a debate that is happening in the US. Last week, 'The New York Times' published a list of demands for immediate changes related to human rights, including the reestablishment of individual liberties, the end of wire tapping, the closure of the Guantanamo base in Cuba and other major steps that are part of an important debate today." - "Correa is attempting to win power" Dolores Tereso, international columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (03/14) "Without a clear solution at sight, one of the only certainties of the intricate Ecuadorian political crisis is that President Rafael Correa will emerge from the chaos in which the country is merged with a renewed amount of power. "According to analysts, (Correa) is taking advantage of his impressive popularity ratings and the increasing disrepute of the Ecuadorian Congress to obtain more power and impose, through the Constituent Assembly, the 'Socialism of the 21st century' in his country following the steps of his main ally, Hugo Chavez. "As a consequence of this quasi certainty, it seems clear that, at least in the short run, Correa will not run the same luck of three of his predecessors of the last decade, who were removed from the government. "Nevertheless, the Ecuadorian president should watch his future moves. While his over-70-percent popularity rating provides him with margin to act freely, analysts warn that his disregard for the economy and his closeness to Chavez could deprive him of support in the medium term. "Ecuadorians also have the certainty that the country is increasingly distancing itself from the rule of law in the midst of a crisis in which all sides make mutual charges of having violated the Constitution." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE