Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUENOSAIRES92
2007-01-19 20:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION OBAMA'S BID FOR US PRESIDENCY; GLOBAL

Tags:  KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0021
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0092/01 0192051
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 192051Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7005
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000092 

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 OBAMA'S BID FOR US PRESIDENCY; GLOBAL
WARMING; MEETING BETWEEN CHAVEZ AND KIRCHNER; 01/19/07; BUENOS
AIRES


UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000092

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 OBAMA'S BID FOR US PRESIDENCY; GLOBAL
WARMING; MEETING BETWEEN CHAVEZ AND KIRCHNER; 01/19/07; BUENOS
AIRES



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Key international stories today include Democratic Senator Barack
Obama's nomination to the US presidency; expectations that the US
Congress will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions; and Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez reassuring Argentine President Nestor Kirchner
that his nationalization plans will not affect the interests of
Argentine companies.


2. OPINION PIECES

- "Obama shakes up the race for the White House"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" front-pages a story bylined by its
Washington-based correspondent, Hugo Alconada Mon, who writes
(01/19) "The still remote US presidential elections scenario has
already been 'shaken up' by Democratic Senator Barack Obama's bid
for the US presidency. Black and charismatic, Obama will run for
president in November 2008, and could formally launch his campaign
February 10.

... According to critics, Barack Obama lacks enough foreign policy
experience to run for president.

"... Obama's personal history shows a new side of the American
dream. According to John Kein, political columnist of 'Time'
magazine and expert in Democratic circles, 'Obama is young,
attractive, charismatic and has 'an eloquence not shown by any other
candidate so far ... but for..., Bill Clinton.'

"... However, he will find it hard to win the (Democratic) primary
elections. Hillary is counting on her husband's election machine,
and other figures could give him a surprise, or at least weaken
(Obama) enough to leave him behind."

- "Awareness"

Paula Lugones, international columnist of leading "Clarin," writes
(01/19) "George W. Bush, the president of the country that is the
largest source of global warming pollution, asserted that global
warming... was an issue posed by exaggerating scientists and he did
not ratify the Kyoto Protocol on the grounds that it might put a
brake on the economy.

"The panorama changed - the world is rocked by hurricanes and
droughts, bikini-styled winters and polar bears that die as a result
of high temperatures. Also, former VP Al Gore's documentary
predicted a not-too distant catastrophe in the event leaders do not
take quick action in this regard...

"Europe realized the need to analyze ways of reducing gas emissions.
We'll see whether the now Democratic US Congress helps the US join
this initiative."

- "Chavez promises to respect Argentine companies' investment"

Alejandro Di Lazzaro, on special assignment in Rio de Janeiro for
daily-of-record "La Nacion" writes (01/19) "... The Argentine
President and his Venezuelan counterpart had a meeting in which it
was made clear that Argentine companies in Venezuela are not running
any risk whatsoever.

"The fear emerged when Chavez's new plans to nationalize companies
again and deepen his Socialist revolution were made public...

"The positive atmosphere of the encounter clearly reveals that
Argentina considers Chavez a very important partner, regardless of
his bombastic statements and his considerations that Mercosur should
be 'reformulated.'

"In a meeting with journalists Chavez expanded on his policy on
corporations and explained that US telecommunications and
electricity companies were under scrutiny. He added 'They are used
to exploiting our people, Latin American capitals are something
different.'

"The company that raised most concern was undoubtedly Techint, which
has important steel investment in Venezuela."

- "Kirchner meets with Chavez and could travel to Caracas in
February"

Natasha Niebieskikwiat, on special assignment in Rio de Janeiro for
leading "Clarin," comments (01/19) "Nestor Kirchner and Lula da
Silva again confirmed their strategic alliance with Hugo Chavez
through new agreements with the Venezuela...



"... A high-ranking (Argentine) government source asserted that
Kirchner has nothing but 'gratitude' towards Chavez and that
Venezuela is a 'loyal' partner (of Argentina). Chavez himself had
let Kirchner know his nationalizations plans in advance.

"... The issue was tackled again yesterday in the presidential
bilateral meeting, and Argentines are now sure that Chavez is not
planning to include Argentine companies in his plans.

"... Chavez asserted that Argentine companies 'should not be
worried,' and that his nationalization policy applied to companies
that, according to him, had not played 'the social role' required by
law. And he made it clear that US and Latin American capital
investment were not the same thing."

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires

WAYNE