AMBASSADOR AND INTERIOR MINISTER REVIEW SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000726 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/BSC FOR FRIEDMAN AND BLAKENEY GUATEMALA FOR ALEX FEATHERSTONE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SNAR PARM AR SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND INTERIOR MINISTER REVIEW SECURITY AGENDA REF: BUENOS AIRES 716 Classified By: AMBASSADOR E. ANTHONY WAYNE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. On April 13, Ambassador Wayne and Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez met to review the broad range of bilateral security cooperation. Ambassador noted success of Operation ""Todo Inclusivo,"" a DEA-supported effort to target cocaine trafficking out of Ezeiza airport and Fernandez reported that the GoA will be unveiling a series of decrees in the following week to enhance counternarcotics efforts. The Ambassador noted the importance of showing concrete progress in the fight against trafficking in person and the Minister said he would work to get pending legislation passed before he and First Lady Cristina Kirchner travel to the U.S. in early May (reported septel). They discussed nuclear terrorism training, airport security issues, and moving forward with the stalled Megaports Initiative. END SUMMARY. -------------- Trafficking in Persons -------------- ¶2. (C) On April 13, Ambassador held one of his regular meeting with Minister of Interior Anibal Fernandez to review our varied bilateral security agenda. The Ambassador noted that the Department was in the process of preparing its annual TIP report. He explained that Argentine Susana Trimarco, recent recipient of the Secretary's International Woman of Courage Award, had raised awareness of the TIP issue in Argentina and that much attention was being focused on the country. Ambassador stressed that it was important to continue to show concrete progress and that progress would be good before Argentine First Lady Cristina Kirchner and Fernandez visited Washington on May 3-4. Fernandez noted that, following last year's TIP report and Argentina's downgrading to Tier II Watchlist, he had become personally involved in the TIP issue, creating a special victims attention unit in his Ministry. He said that he expected the Lower House to complete deliberations on pending TIP legislation soon, and said he would push to get the legislation passed before he and the First Lady made their planned trip to the U.S. in early May. (Additional TIP reporting SEPTEL). -------------- Counternarcotics -------------- ¶3. (C) Ambassador applauded a DEA-supported, Argentine inter-agency effort (Operation ""Todo Inclusivo"") targeting drug trafficking from Buenos Aires' Ezeiza international airport to Spain. Although information is still being compiled, the operation netted numerous arrests and cocaine seizures and was a good example of Mission efforts to encourage Argentine interagency cooperation, in this case between Customs and Airport Police (PSA). ¶4. (SBU) Fernandez said that the government will unveil eight counternarcotics presidential decrees (executive orders) in the next week designed to strengthen narcotrafficking investigations, better control the diversion of precursor chemicals, establish and strengthen investigative laboratories and establish a number of common databases. Fernandez also said the government will announce plans to establish two new drug testing labs in Misiones and Salta Provinces and is close to completing a bilateral counternarcotics agreement with Spain. He added that the MOI is moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with the Health Ministry that will draw on the latter's expertise to study and test the quality of interdicted illegal drugs before destroying them. The Ambassador applauded the Minister for his continuing efforts to better coordinate Argentina's four security forces' counternarcotics efforts. The Minister indicated that the GoA would continue to emphasize the importance of bilateral counterdrug initiatives, and underscored that cooperation in these areas has been outstanding. At the Ambassador's invitation, Fernandez also indicated that representatives from the Argentine Federal Police and the Gendarmeria would attend an international drug enforcement conference in Madrid in May. -------------- --- ATA Training, CT, Megaports and Airport Security -------------- --- ¶5. (C) On counterterrorism, Fernandez was again enthusiastic about current and future bilateral cooperation. He said his government would happily receive the Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) program team in late June or early July and expressed gratitude for USG police training assistance. The minister said he was also eager to meet with Tom Fuentes, Agent In Charge, FBI Office of International Operations and member of the Interpol Executive Committee, when Fuentes is in town April 30th. The Ambassador encouraged the Minister to send, along with Argentine security peronnel, members of Argentina's national intelligence and nuclear regulatory agencies to an FBI nuclear terrorism conference in June. Fernandez indicated he would consider the suggestion. ¶6. (C) Fernandez also expressed GoA intentions to collaborate on Megaports and aviation issues. The Ambassador reiterated that the U.S. DOE is anxious to move forward on Megaports cooperation. Fernandez said Argentine Customs will take the lead on Megaports, and the MoI will play a supporting role (see reftel for more details). He added that the government just bought eight new mobile scanners to improve Customs' inspection capabilities. Regarding airport security, the Ambassador also thanked Fernandez for the GoA's flexibility and understanding in extending PSA coverage for inspecting baggage an extra 30 days while U.S. and other carriers identified suitable private companies to perform cargo and baggage screening. The Minister replied that he was glad to help and noted that working with the Airport Police Director Marcelo Sain, whom Fernandez characterized as like ""an elephant on amphetamines in a bazaar,"" was very difficult. Fernandez also said the GoA has approved USD40 million to invest in airport security this year. WAYNE