MEDIA REACTION; LATIN AMERICAN CRISIS; 03/04/08

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000282 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 SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; LATIN AMERICAN CRISIS; 03/04/08 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Major local papers extensively report on and carry opinion pieces and editorials related to the three-nation crisis that threatens Latin America's stability after Venezuela and Ecuador cut diplomatic ties with Colombia and ordered troops to their borders. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - "A tropical tango for three" Daily-of-record "La Nacion" (03/04) carries an opinion piece by Abel Posse, a former diplomat and writer, who opines "... We (Argentines) need to be extremely careful (regarding the crisis among Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela)... The Argentine Government's erratic diplomacy has no room for error. In her role as temporary Mercosur head, the President has an obvious diplomatic excuse for postponing her visit to Caracas and heading for Brasilia and Montevideo instead in order to urgently call on the organization. Brazil and Argentina should be united in a call for an end to any military attack and propose that Mercosur and the OAS press for a peace pact based on Colombia's apologies for its incursion in Ecuador without due authorization. Colombia will have to accept Ecuador's formal protest. "Chavez, facing a strong economic crisis that adds to his discredit gained by his insulting authoritarianism, could ignite an 'unpredictable fire.' He still suffers from the dangerous 'heroes' dream.' "In brief, we have a big opportunity to consolidate the hemispheric strategy for peace, modernization and development, which we planned with Brazil and which we cannot afford to risk. It is an extraordinary opportunity for our President to define herself in the diplomatic field." - "A wrong message" Marcelo Cantelmi, international editor of leading "Clarin," comments (03/04)"The main point of this conflict is that Colombia trespassed a national border in entering Ecuador, to attack a guerrilla camp. Bogota attempted to justify its action through a wave of denunciation, but it only worsened the scenario. By claiming that the Quito and Caracas governments are FARC accomplices..., it sent the highly erroneous message that it has the right to ignore international legality when it comes to imposing its domestic military strategy. This is a huge similarity to George W. Bush's pre-emptive war doctrine, with its immense negative impact on international security. It is not strange that this operation has triggered huge concern in the region, which is now working around the clock to defuse this serious precedent. The current escalation was inevitable. Ecuador's rupture of ties to Colombia and Venezuela's expulsion of the Colombian Ambassador are all facts aimed at complicating Colombia's stance. The region wants Alvaro Uribe to apologize, which he could perhaps do, although the point is whether his gesture will do any good." - "It would be a big mistake for the Argentine Government to side with one of the parties to the conflict." Business-financial "El Cronista" carries an opinion piece by Claudio Fantini, expert in international politics, who writes (03/04) "Alvaro Uribe's temerity in waging his war against the FARC and Hugo Chavez's flamboyant and incontinent rhetoric are pushing the region to the verge of an abyss. This is why it is crucial for the governments of the region to act in a balanced way and urge both parties to hold talks and defuse the crisis... "... The incident unveiled both Uribe's dangerous temerity and Ecuador's intromission in its neighboring country's domestic conflict. As to Hugo Chavez, it was his own reaction which unveiled a total affinity between his administration and the FARC... "Under these circumstances, it would be a big mistake for the Argentine government to side with one of the two parties to the conflict instead of urging them to obtain a balanced dtente." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE