ARGENTINA: SENATE PRESIDENT JOSE PAMPURO ON THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000803 SIPDIS SIPDIS EMBASSY VILNIUS FOR THOMAS P. KELLY EMBASSY GUATEMALA FOR ALEX FEATHERSTONE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2027 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: SENATE PRESIDENT JOSE PAMPURO ON THE STATUS OF COUNTERTERRORISM AND TIP LEGISLATION, VENEZUELA REF: SECSTATE 52361 Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On April 23, Ambassador Wayne called on President Pro Tempore of the Senate Jose Pampuro, who said he expects to accompany First Lady Cristina Kirchner on her May 3 trip to Washington. The Ambassador raised three issues that people may raise during their visit: 1) Argentina's position on support for democracy and press freedoms in Venezuela; 2) the status of draft legislation criminalizing trafficking in persons (TIP) in Argentina; and 3) the status of draft counterterrorism finance legislation. Pampuro spoke frankly about his opinions on the relationship between Venezuela and Argentina, expressing concern over the planned GOV take-over of RCTV. On the counterterrorism front, Pampuro said that the Senate was perhaps within 30 days of passing the bill, stressing that the government is committed to its passage. Pampuro also offered to contact the lower house to find out when the TIP bill would be returned to the Senate for a vote. END SUMMARY. -------------- On a Possible Cristina Presidency -------------- ¶2. (C) On April 23, Ambassador Wayne and poloff called on President Pro Tempore of the Senate Jose Pampuro to discuss some key points that might be raised while he accompanies First Lady Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on her May 3 trip to Washington, including support for passage of two bills pending in the Argentine Congress: one on counterterrorism finance and the other on anti-trafficking in persons. Pampuro said his relationship with Fernandez de Kirchner is very close, explaining that he helped her campaign in Buenos Aires province. He said that he thought President Kirchner had removed him from his former post as Minister of Defense so that he could serve as President Pro Tempore of the Senate and work closely with Cristina. He said that he believed he would be accompanying the First Lady on her May 3 trip to Washington, because of his close ties to the Jewish community. On her possible candidacy for president, Pampuro said she would "change Argentina's relationship with the U.S. and Europe for the better." -------------- -------------- Venezuela: Democracy, Relations with Argentina, and RCTV -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador also indicated that Washington would be interested in Argentina's position on supporting democracy in Venezuela, especially noting concerns over press freedom and the closure of RCTV. Pampuro said that the RCTV issue is complicated for the GOA, and he noted that Argentina has its own problems with Chavez over a proposed take-over of a plant involving the Argentine Company Techint. Pampuro did not elaborate on the RCTV issue or on how the GOA will react if Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez goes ahead with the take-over, but rather shifted the conversation to his dismay over the state of Argentine-Venezuelan relations. ¶4. (C) Pampuro explained that he understood Argentina's need for help from Venezuela in the form of bond purchases, but that he felt that was a one-time situation. Pampuro said he hoped that President Kirchner could see that it is time for the GOA to distance itself a little from the BRV. He said he hoped that relations with Chile and Brazil could be improved; he described them currently as "cold." He said because of his divergent views on relations with the BRV he no longer accompanies President Kirchner on trips to Venezuela. Pampuro noted that sources close to him who travel with Kirchner to Venezuela have reported that the relationship is "changing." (COMMENT: Pampuro implied that Kirchner is taking a bit more distance in relations with the BRV, but did not elaborate. END COMMENT.) He also said that Chavez's involvement in other countries has become questionable in his opinion. He explained that the region has seen this type of leadership before and remembers that they tend to end badly. He cited Argentine former military dictator Videla and Chilean dictator Pinochet as examples. -------------- Counterterrorism Finance Bill -------------- ¶5. (C) Pampuro emphasized that the GOA is committed to passing the counterterrorism finance bill, estimating that the Senate could pass it within the next 30 days, and that Congress should definitely act before the October elections. (COMMENT: National AML/CTF coordinator for the Ministry of Justice Juan Felix Marteau and IMF Regional AML/CTF Advisor in Buenos Aires Mariano Federicci are both pessimistic that Congress will act on the bill before the October elections based on their contact with the administration and Congress. END COMMENT.) Pampuro said he expects the bill to pass unanimously in the Senate, despite the trouble they had reaching consensus on the definition of terrorism. He said that he would be attending his party's block meeting on April 24 and would inquire about the bill's status. Pampuro said he was sure the bill would pass without problems, knowing that his party (Frente Para Victoria) and the Civic Radical Union party (UCR) both support it. -------------- Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill -------------- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador also raised the importance of passing pending trafficking in persons legislation. Pampuro took notes on the Ambassador's points and said he would call Deputy Rosario Romero, Lower House Chairperson of the Criminal Legislation Committee, who is in charge of action in the lower chamber to get a sense of when the bill might move back to the Senate, where he could help get more rapid action. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Pampuro candidly shared his opinions on Argentina's relationship with Venezuela, admitting that they differ greatly from those of the administration. He seemed genuinely optimistic about and interested in the passage of both the counterterrorism finance bill and the anti-trafficking in persons bill. He told the Ambassador that he hoped to hold a minister position in a possible Fernandez de Kirchner administration, indicating that his relationship with the First Lady remains close. Pampuro appeared more open to interaction and increased relations with the U.S. than some other GOA officials, citing his fondness for former Ambassador to Buenos Aires Jim Cheek and his time as a medical student in New York. END COMMENT. WAYNE