Argentina: Education and Law Enforcement Cooperation with

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000427 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KJUS ASEC ECON PGOV AR SUBJECT: Argentina: Education and Law Enforcement Cooperation with Cordoba Province Ref: Buenos Aires 346 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador Wayne's March 18 visit to the city of Cordoba emphasized U.S.-Argentine cooperation on issues critical to ordinary Argentines - education and personal security. On the education side, the Ambassador announced new scholarships for students to study English and signed an updated Fulbright agreement with the provincial Ministry of Science and Technology. On the very topical issue of crime and personal security, the Ambassador helped launch the province's participation in the Combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS). CODIS, an automated DNA information processing and telecommunications system, was donated by the FBI. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Security: Crime is an increasing concern for Cordoba and for the rest of Argentina. Cordoba's participation in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) should help the province solve crimes and exonerate innocent suspects. At a ceremony that included the Governor, Provincial Chief Justice, Provincial Attorney General, and Provincial Minister of Justice, Ambassador and the Governor called attention to the history of law enforcement cooperation between the U.S. and Argentina that made the CODIS project possible. The ceremony transferred control of the CODIS database and a forensic laboratory from the executive branch to the judicial branch and marked the formal launch of CODIS in the province. ¶3. (SBU) Education: At the same ceremony that launched CODIS, Ambassador signed, on behalf of the Fulbright Commission, an agreement on the co-sponsorship of grants for U.S. and Argentine researchers and scholars. The project, funded by the Cordoba Ministry of Science and Technology, will provide up to sixteen exchanges per year. Earlier in the day the Ambassador announced ten new Sarmiento-Mann scholarships for the local binational center. The Sarmiento-Mann scholarships enable high school students from low income families to study English at the binational center, IICANA, the International Cultural Institute of Argentina and North America. IICANA has successfully administered Sarmiento-Mann scholarships for two years. The Ambassador's announcement allows the entry of a new class. ¶4. (SBU) Media: Media outreach was a focus of the visit to one of the most important media centers in the Argentine interior. The Ambassador's phone interview with popular radio host Miguel Claria was broadcast throughout the region immediately after taping. Leading daily "La Voz del Interior" also received an exclusive interview. All major local TV, radio and press outlets covered the signing ceremony and the Ambassador's subsequent press conference. In addition to the fundamental message of U.S.-Argentine cooperation in law enforcement and education, press opportunities gave the Ambassador the chance to note that the previous day's nationalization of an aircraft maintenance facility run by Lockheed had proceeded through negotiation and according to the contract between Lockheed and the GOA. The Ambassador also described U.S. interest in cooperative efforts to address the global economic crisis, particularly at G-20 meetings and the Summit of the Americas. ¶5. (SBU) Ambassador also met with Tomas Capdevila, Chairman of the local chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham),who described tough times for local agriculture and auto plants, but continued hiring by Cordoba's burgeoning high-tech sector. He held a private meeting with Governor Juan Schiaretti, which was reported reftel. WAYNE