Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUENOSAIRES677
2007-04-10 19:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

MINISTER OF DEFENSE STRESSES POSITIVE RELATIONS

Tags:  MARR MASS PREL AR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7784
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION PRIORITY 6089
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 5948
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1175
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ APR 4577
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 1827
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 0331
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000677 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL AR
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF DEFENSE STRESSES POSITIVE RELATIONS
WITH U.S.

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000677

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL AR
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF DEFENSE STRESSES POSITIVE RELATIONS
WITH U.S.

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


1. (C) Summary: In a March 23 meeting with Ambassador Wayne,
and again on March 28 with visiting Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense Stephen Johnson, Defense Minister Nilda

SIPDIS
Garre stressed the importance of the bilateral relationship
with the U.S. and training and exchange opportunities. She
reiterated Argentina's commitment to peacekeeping operations,
particularly in Haiti. Garre noted that the MoD's withdrawal
of its Defense Attache from NATO, and its rethinking of DATT
assignments in general, was driven by budgetary reasons
primarily and, secondarily, by a decision to focus on new
priority countries such as Japan, India and Australia. Garre
noted that the MoD could benefit from the U.S. military's
experience with joint command, the incorporation of women
into the armed forces, and requested USG assistance in
authorizing the Spanish transfer to Argentina of four older
Westinghouse 2D radars, originally purchased from the U.S.
Please see action request for PM/RSAT paragraph 8. End
Summary.

-------------- --------------
Positive Relations - Opportunities for Cooperation
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) On March 23, Ambassador Wayne hosted a lunch for
Defense Minister Nilda Garre, Secretary for Military Affairs
Jose Vasquez Ocampo, Chief of Cabinet Dr. Raul Garre and MoD
Press Coordinator Jorge Bernetti. DATT, Milgp Cmdr and
PolMil Officer attended. Garre noted the good bilateral
relations and said she appreciated the cooperation and
interchange with the U.S. military. This was a message Garre
repeated a week later during her meeting with DASD for
Western Hemisphere Stephen Johnson in connection with the
annual OSD-MoD Bilateral Working Group meetings.


3. (SBU) She noted that the MoD and Argentine armed forces
were still in the process of restructuring and could benefit
from the U.S. military's experience with joint command.
Garre stated that the MoD was looking at creating a
Secretariat for Science and Technology and that this was

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another where she would like to build on cooperation with the
U.S. The Minister said her office was also looking at the
issue of women in the Armed forces. She explained that women
currently represented about seven percent of uniformed
personnel and that their target was to increase this
participation to 15 percent. She noted that for the first
time women (12) were included in the crew of Argentina's navy
training vessel, the tall ship "Libertad." Note, Libertad
will be making several ports of call in the U.S.(Puerto Rico
12-16 May; New York 23-28 May; Boston 29 Sep-03 Oct; Norfolk
06 Oct-10 Oct). End Note.

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Peacekeeping Operations
--------------


4. (SBU) Garre also reiterated the GoA's and MoD's commitment
to PKO's, MINUSTAH in particular. The Ambassador stated the
USG's appreciation for Argentina's efforts in Haiti and
elsewhere and the U.S.'s continued support, including for
Argentina's peacekeeping training center CAECOPAZ. Regarding
Haiti, the Minister reiterated the GoA position that the
long-term solution was not military, and that the MoD would
like to incorporate/replace troops with the civilian
Gendarmeria (Argentina's paramilitary border patrol). Garre
explained that the Joint/Combined headquarters for the
Argentine-Chilean PK brigade had been stood up at the MoD in
Buenos Aires and that they hoped to have an operation force
by the end of 2008. Garre said the intent was to make the
brigade a quick reaction force that, at the request of the
U.N., could intervene early in a crisis before it explodes.


5. (C) When asked about the planned withdrawal of Argentine
personnel from Kosovo, Garre said the MoD faced very limited
resources and that they were expecting increased demands from
the UN, including in Darfur. She stressed that the pullout
from Kosovo was a practical decision, not ideological (i.e.
operating under a NATO vs UN flag).

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Defense Attache are Expensive
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6. (C) Garre explained that resource and personnel
limitations were behind the MoD's decision to recall its DATT
from NATO and, in fact, a reevaluation of all DATT
assignments worldwide. She noted that a number of
assignments required the appointment of senior officers and
that the Argentine military simply did not have enough to
fill all the senior DATT positions and the needs at home. She
also noted that the MoD had shifted some of its priorities
and was looking at building relations with countries such as
Japan, India and Australia.

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Training
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7. (C) Garre said that the MoD was having to look at training
as well and cost saving measures such as perhaps conducting
training at home versus sending personnel overseas. DATT and
Milgp Cmdr expressed Embassy concern that the MoD was
considering not filling at the last moment some of the
important education billets such as the Air War College and
National Defense University, which precludes inviting another
country to attend. Additionally, we expressed concern about
not filling some of the personnel exchange officer billets,
which have reciprocal ramifications.

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Radars
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8. (SBU) Finally Garre, discussed the process of
transferring responsibility for civil aviation air traffic
control from the military to civilian authorities and the
ongoing problems they were experiencing with their civil air
traffic control radars. She also mentioned that Spain was
prepared to transfer four older Westinghouse 2D radars to
Argentina, which would require USG approval for Spain to make
a third party transfer, since the radars were originally
purchased from the U.S. In subsequent meetings, GoA
officials have requested Embassy assistance in facilitating
the process. Note: Embassy understands that the Spanish
request was received in PM/RSAT on April 6, 2007. We would
appreciate an update on status and expected action timeframe.
WAYNE