ARGENTINA: AMBASSADOR WAYNE'S APRIL 30 MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000855 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA FOR A/S THOMAS SHANNON EMBASSY VILNIUS FOR THOMAS P. KELLY EMBASSY GUATEMALA FOR ALEX FEATHERSTONE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER AR VZ SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: AMBASSADOR WAYNE'S APRIL 30 MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER TAIANA REF: SECSTATE 52361 Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On April 30, Ambassador Wayne called on Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana to discuss First Lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's May 3 trip to Washington and other issues. (Taiana had planned to join her, but it now appears he will not.) The Ambassador highlighted the importance of supporting press freedom in Venezuela and raised the RCTV case; underscored USG concern over growing Venezuelan-Iranian ties; noted FBI Special Agent in Charge, International Operations Tom Fuentes's visit to Buenos Aires and asked about next steps in the AMIA case; urged passage of counterterrorism finance (CTF) legislation as the next step in Argentina's efforts to combat terrorism; urged passage of anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) legislation; encouraged eventual Congressional approval of this week's UNITAS exercise; and asked about the status of the MFA's translation of the bilateral Civair accord. Taiana offered little to no comment on most points, but did say that Argentine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Bordon had invited U/S Nick Burns and A/S Tom Shannon to coffee on May 3 or 4 at his residence should Taiana accompany the First Lady. He also stated that he would meet with OAS Secretary General Insulza to discuss the upcoming OAS General Assembly and Falklands/Malvinas if he travels to DC. SEPTEL will cover Taiana's comments on his and First Lady Cristina Kirchner's visit to Washington and President Lula's visit to Buenos Aires. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On April 30, Ambassador Wayne and poloffs called on Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana to discuss some key points that might be raised with First Lady Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on her May 3-4 trip to Washington. (Taiana had planned to accompany her.) The Ambassador highlighted the importance of supporting press freedom in Venezuela and raised the RCTV case; underscored USG concern over growing Venezuelan-Iranian ties; noted FBI's Interpol representative Tom Fuentes' visit to Buenos Aires and asked about next steps in the AMIA terrorism case; urged passage of counterterrorism finance legislation as the next step in Argentina's efforts to combat terrorism; urge passage of anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) legislation; encouraged eventual Congressional approval of this week's UNITAS exercise; and asked about the status of MFA translation of the Civair accord. Also in attendance from the Foreign Ministry was U/S for Political Affairs Vicente Espeche Gil. ¶3. (C) Taiana offered little to no comment on most points. He noted the Ambassador's points on RCTV and Venezuela and the likelihood that discussion at the American Jewish Council dinner could include these points. Taiana said he was aware of Fuentes's visit and that Espeche Gil had met with Fuentes earlier in the day. Espeche Gil noted that Fuentes recommended the GOA lobby moderate Islamic countries in the run-up to the Interpol General Assembly in November. He added that Fuentes suggested that traditional Muslim solidarity on these issues is breaking down as more and more Islamic countries realize that the majority of terrorist victims are fellow Muslims. ¶4. (C) Taiana said that he was not familiar with the anti-TIP legislation, but had an idea of several draft bills being discussed in Congress. (Poloff briefed him on the status of the legislation and the Ambassador underscored the importance of passage of the legislation in the next two months.) On UNITAS, Taiana said that he knew of the issue of pending Congressional approval for the joint exercise and that he had spoken with Minister of Defense Nilda Garre about it and stated that he did not believe passage would be a problem. Taiana said that he thought the Civair accord was with the MFA's infrastructure office and that his office is watching its progress closely. ¶5. (C) Taiana also mentioned that Argentine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Bordon was inviting U/S Nick Burns and A/S Tom Shannon to coffee on May 3 or 4 at his residence for an informal talk. Taiana said he hoped the meeting could be arranged. ¶6. (C) Ambassador also informed Taiana that the USG will be giving the GOA software and technical assistance to implement a new control system to monitor the import and export of strategic materials. The USG is also giving the GOA portable detectors for radioactive material, the Ambassador added. Taiana welcomed the news. ¶7. (C) COMMENT: MFA contacts have indicated that Taiana is increasingly preoccupied with managing the Casa Rosada, which may help explain why Taiana appeared only superficially aware of some of the issues Ambassador Wayne raised. He was more talkative about his trip to Mexico and President Kirchner's meeting with Brazilian President Ignacio Lula da Silva (SEPTEL),than most of the points raised in this meeting. WE have just learned that Taiana will in the end not accompany the First Lady to Washington. Taiana's chief of staff told the Ambassador last week that Taiana might not travel because he had been away from the office so much recently and the First Lady's schedule in Washington was not very full. Taiana, himself, commented to the Ambassador on the way out of his officer that he was feeling quite tired from his travels. END COMMENT. WAYNE