ARGENTINE OPPOSITION THANKS AMBASSADOR FOR

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000198 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CJAN KJUS KPAO SNAR ASEC AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINE OPPOSITION THANKS AMBASSADOR FOR CLARIFYING U.S. JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE REF: (A) STATE 12346 (B) BUENOS AIRES 0127 ¶1. Per Department guidance (ref A),the Ambassador sent the leaders of Argentina's opposition Civic Coalition a letter on February 8 regarding the separation of powers in the U.S. constitution and the independence of the U.S. judiciary. The recipients must have released the Ambassador's letter, for the entire text was reprinted in the press. ¶2. Civic Coalition leaders Elisa Carrio (who was runner-up in the 2007 presidential election),and Patricia Bullrich and Adrian Perez (members of the National Chamber of Deputies), responded with the following letter dated February 15: Begin Embassy's informal translation of letter: Dear Ambassador Wayne: We thank you for your letter of February 8 regarding the court case which is proceeding in Miami against four defendants charged with acting as agents of a foreign government in the United States. Likewise, we thank you for your explanation in that letter and its attachment, which turned out to be useful and enlightening, as well as necessary, since the explanations offered by the government of Argentina were confusing. Your note with the conceptual clarification of the guarantees of judicial independence in the United States permits us to understand that the court case will follow its normal course, which for the Civic Coalition is of utmost importance. Sincerely, Adrian Perez, Patricia Bullrich Elisa Carrio End text of informal translation. ¶3. Embassy extends its appreciation of Department's ref A response to ref B request for guidance in answering these prominent opposition leaders. WAYNE