Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUENOSAIRES562
2007-03-23 09:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION; PRESIDENT BUSH'S LATAM TOUR; FREE TRADE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBU #0562/01 0820930 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 230930Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7636 INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2// RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000562
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; PRESIDENT BUSH'S LATAM TOUR; FREE TRADE
DEALS; 03/21/07; BUENOS AIRES
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000562
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; PRESIDENT BUSH'S LATAM TOUR; FREE TRADE
DEALS; 03/21/07; BUENOS AIRES
1. SUMMARY STATEMENT
Today's most important international stories focus on US Assistant
Secretary Thomas Shannon's remarks about the "positive" results of
SIPDIS
US President Bush's tour of Latin America; and Professor Richard
Feinberg's press round table in Buenos Aires on international trade
and free trade deals.
2. OPINION PIECES
- "Shannon - '(Bush's) tour was very useful"
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin,"
comments (03/21) "After attending a press conference by (US
Assistant Secretary) Tom Shannon, the Bush administration's strong
man for Latin America who made an assessment of US President Bush's
tour of the region, one journalist said: 'If Shannon was named US
Ambassador to Iraq, he would certainly go to Saddam Hussein's grave
and tell him that the US is willing to speak to him as long as he is
willing to speak with the US.'
"Putting jokes aside, Shannon is convinced that today there is only
room for dialogue in our region. According to him, our countries
abandoned authoritarianism and opened its economies, but now the
second stage is ahead, in which the challenge is how to make
democracies include all the excluded of the system. Shannon believes
it is a 'crucial moment,' in which 'there is no room for
confrontation.'
"... Shannon said that the US is willing to provide the 'required
cooperation' to solve the Ecuadorian crisis... He termed Bush's tour
of Latin America as 'positive' and very 'useful.' According to him,
it served to remind Americans of the importance of the Americas and
to show Latin Americans the 'human face' of Washington's policies
for the region. Shannon praised Bush's relationship with Lula and
said that Uruguay is 'a trustworthy and useful partner.'"
- "Washington criticizes Mercosur and suggests to hold bilateral
negotiations"
Alejandro Bercovich, economic columnist of business-financial "El
Cronista," penned (03/21) "Governments may not openly express some
opinions but they can convey those messages in other ways, whether
private or public. Perhaps, this is why this time the piece of
advice came out of the mouth of academic Richard Feinberg, former
advisor o Bill Clinton and current professor at the University of
California.
"During a press round table, Feinberg said 'The world does not wait
and your country is relatively closed to international trade. Free
trade agreements help open markets and attract investors.'
"... Just a few days after US President George W. Bush ended his
tour of Latin America (which excluded Argentina),Washington resumed
the initiative with a trade bloc that many see too much 'inclined to
the left' in the aftermath of Venezuela's incorporation.
"Feinberg underlined that Brazil-led Mercosur's negotiations with
third markets did not reap positive results. 'What agreements have
you been able to reach? Not any deal with Chile, or with the Andean
countries, the US or the EU.' And he concluded: 'It is obvious that
Uruguayans are frustrated over the little progress obtained in
discussions.'
"Clinton's former advisor also praised the recovery of Argentina's
economy (which he termed as 'wonderful') although he said he was
surprised by the 'changes in foreign policy' which, in his opinion,
have distanced the two governments. 'In a not too distant future,
both countries will again enjoy a friendly and harmonious
relationship.'
"... The expert also listed all the advantages offered, in his view,
by free trade deals. In addition to opening new markets, he
mentioned the effect of preventing other competitors from obtaining
positions vis-`-vis the country. He also said that free trade deals
'help capturing investment, particularly in countries having
changing policies.'
"Nevertheless, according to Oxfam, an anti-subsidies NGO, the US and
EU 'are using bilateral and regional deals to obtain tradeoffs they
would be unable to obtain on a multilateral level, where developing
countries could join (against them).'"
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
WAYNE
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; PRESIDENT BUSH'S LATAM TOUR; FREE TRADE
DEALS; 03/21/07; BUENOS AIRES
1. SUMMARY STATEMENT
Today's most important international stories focus on US Assistant
Secretary Thomas Shannon's remarks about the "positive" results of
SIPDIS
US President Bush's tour of Latin America; and Professor Richard
Feinberg's press round table in Buenos Aires on international trade
and free trade deals.
2. OPINION PIECES
- "Shannon - '(Bush's) tour was very useful"
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin,"
comments (03/21) "After attending a press conference by (US
Assistant Secretary) Tom Shannon, the Bush administration's strong
man for Latin America who made an assessment of US President Bush's
tour of the region, one journalist said: 'If Shannon was named US
Ambassador to Iraq, he would certainly go to Saddam Hussein's grave
and tell him that the US is willing to speak to him as long as he is
willing to speak with the US.'
"Putting jokes aside, Shannon is convinced that today there is only
room for dialogue in our region. According to him, our countries
abandoned authoritarianism and opened its economies, but now the
second stage is ahead, in which the challenge is how to make
democracies include all the excluded of the system. Shannon believes
it is a 'crucial moment,' in which 'there is no room for
confrontation.'
"... Shannon said that the US is willing to provide the 'required
cooperation' to solve the Ecuadorian crisis... He termed Bush's tour
of Latin America as 'positive' and very 'useful.' According to him,
it served to remind Americans of the importance of the Americas and
to show Latin Americans the 'human face' of Washington's policies
for the region. Shannon praised Bush's relationship with Lula and
said that Uruguay is 'a trustworthy and useful partner.'"
- "Washington criticizes Mercosur and suggests to hold bilateral
negotiations"
Alejandro Bercovich, economic columnist of business-financial "El
Cronista," penned (03/21) "Governments may not openly express some
opinions but they can convey those messages in other ways, whether
private or public. Perhaps, this is why this time the piece of
advice came out of the mouth of academic Richard Feinberg, former
advisor o Bill Clinton and current professor at the University of
California.
"During a press round table, Feinberg said 'The world does not wait
and your country is relatively closed to international trade. Free
trade agreements help open markets and attract investors.'
"... Just a few days after US President George W. Bush ended his
tour of Latin America (which excluded Argentina),Washington resumed
the initiative with a trade bloc that many see too much 'inclined to
the left' in the aftermath of Venezuela's incorporation.
"Feinberg underlined that Brazil-led Mercosur's negotiations with
third markets did not reap positive results. 'What agreements have
you been able to reach? Not any deal with Chile, or with the Andean
countries, the US or the EU.' And he concluded: 'It is obvious that
Uruguayans are frustrated over the little progress obtained in
discussions.'
"Clinton's former advisor also praised the recovery of Argentina's
economy (which he termed as 'wonderful') although he said he was
surprised by the 'changes in foreign policy' which, in his opinion,
have distanced the two governments. 'In a not too distant future,
both countries will again enjoy a friendly and harmonious
relationship.'
"... The expert also listed all the advantages offered, in his view,
by free trade deals. In addition to opening new markets, he
mentioned the effect of preventing other competitors from obtaining
positions vis-`-vis the country. He also said that free trade deals
'help capturing investment, particularly in countries having
changing policies.'
"Nevertheless, according to Oxfam, an anti-subsidies NGO, the US and
EU 'are using bilateral and regional deals to obtain tradeoffs they
would be unable to obtain on a multilateral level, where developing
countries could join (against them).'"
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
WAYNE