MEDIA REACTION: HONDURAS; AL GORE TO ARGENTINA; 10/15/09;

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001131 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: HONDURAS; AL GORE TO ARGENTINA; 10/15/09; BUENOS AIRES ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's leading international stories are related to the agreement reached by Honduran negotiators, which is aimed at ending a political crisis triggered by President Manuel Zelaya's ouster; and the visit of former US Vice President Al Gore to Argentina and his lecture on climate change in Buenos Aires province. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - "The best possible deal, although it is far from the ideal one" Marcelo Falak, business-financial "Ambito Financiero's" international columnist, opines (10/15),"The international community, particularly the part that is interested in the Honduran crisis, has good reasons to celebrate the principle of agreement that seems to have been reached on the re-democratization of the country. "Nonetheless, one should notice that this celebration has a lot to do with relief, given that coup mongers were too close to setting a new and dangerous precedent for the region. On second thoughts, have they not got their way? "... In principle, one should bear in mind that international pressure is on the verge of restoring to power an ousted, kidnapped and deported president (regardless of the mistakes that he must have made). "... This outcome is the best possible due to many reasons, such as Zelaya's political inability to lead an uprising to return to the government... Anyway, one should acknowledge that coup mongers will largely get their way: they managed to hold Zelaya for almost four months, once he is restored to power he will face strong restrictions, they maintained the election calendar that will put an end to a populist experiment, and they will get rid of the judicial sanctions that should be imposed on them." - "A symbolic restitution?" Leading "Clarin's" international columnist Pablo Biffi writes (10/15),"Both the entourage of Honduran ousted president Manuel Zelaya and the de facto Micheletti administration have spoken yesterday of 'progress' in negotiations in restoring Zelaya to power... "More than 100 days after the coup d'etat, it is hard to imagine what reasons Zelaya's supporters may have to show optimistic when they are not quite sure that 'Mel' will immediately be restored to the government with full powers and honors... "What seems clear is that the coup mongers' only goal was and still is that Zelaya does not return, and if he does so, that he is barely a symbol - (that Zelaya returns) just a few days before his term in office is over only to legitimize the president-elect in November 29 elections. And it is also clear that since Zelaya was ousted, Micheletti has only been a front for the real power behind the coup and that he could leave the stage to give way to a third party who might make appear as 'institutional' what is clearly illegal and illegitimate. This seems to be the reason why Micheletti wants the Supreme Court (an ally of coup mongers) and not the Congress to decide whether Zelaya, who has little popular support, should return to power, when and under which conditions. If this is so, the tendency to stage coups d'etat will have been created and their goal will be met, and this will set a dangerous precedent for the region." - "The countdown started" Daily-of-record "La Nacion's" columnist Laura Rocha comments (10/15),"Former US Vice President Al Gore arrived in our country less than two months away from the Copenhagen Summit, which will debate a new limit on greenhouse gas emissions, which are mostly produced by developed countries. "Nobel Peace Prize Winner Al Gore said: 'There is big hope in the upcoming Copenhagen Summit. I know my country has the main responsibility and I expect this time a world commitment is reached.' "Nonetheless, Gore acknowledged yesterday something that has many times been said about international institutions: 'I do not think the G20 or the UN have the capacity of reaching a deal. Many times those meetings are only held for the photo-op. The UN is not effective either, except when they work along with world leaders, like in the UN General Assembly or the UN Security Council.' "This is why, according to Gore, it is necessary to strengthen carbon dioxide markets, which will be paid to non-pollutant countries... "Only Europe and Japan are really working to achieve this purpose. Even though Gore assured that 931 American cities supported the Kyoto proposal, the US still contributes a good share to world pollution. "However, the most important focus of debate in preparation for the summit is the aid for poor countries, which is estimated to be no less than 100 billion dollars per year so that they can face climate change-related expenditures and adapt themselves to the new weather trends. "All these topics will be dealt with in only 52 days. The countdown has started." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires MARTINEZ