ARGENTINA: CFK EUPHORIC ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000613 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2029 TAGS: PREL OPDC AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: CFK EUPHORIC ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NATIONAL DAY MESSAGE REF: (A) STATE 50889 (B) BUENOS AIRES 0593 Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (U) The Argentine presidency released to the press the text of President Obama's national day message for the May 25 holiday (ref A),and President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (CFK) said ""it is something more than a gesture of greeting for all Argentines. The text speaks of democracies that defend human rights, that we should deepen the bilateral relationship and forge new joint initiatives in the field of justice and social inclusion. It identifies itself with what we have put forward and which (President Obama) himself put forward in his campaign and his administration."" ¶2. (C) CFK also characterized the letter as ""a gesture, just like it's a crystal-clear gesture (that the USG reportedly intends to nominate) the first woman Ambassador of the United States in Argentina and that she's someone with such a high profile...That's the only way to read it, and it's very promising."" (CFK was referring to Ms. Vilma Martinez, the heretofore unofficial nominee as the next U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, whose name was leaked to the Argentine press by the GOA hours after it received an agrement request from the USG.) ¶3. (U) Under the headline ""Obama sent a letter full of praise to the President and asked for more cooperation,"" daily newspaper of record ""La Nacion"" ran a subhead saying ""The president of the United States praised the role of the country as a defender of human rights."" In the article, ""La Nacion"" quoted an unnamed adviser to FM Taiana who said, ""It is a letter of appreciation, not a mere formality. It puts the spotlight on Argentina's role on the world stage, and on its role in the G-20. It speaks of its influence in the region and beyond."" ¶4. (SBU) Largest circulation daily ""Clarin"" also gave the message prominent coverage under the headline ""Obama's letter to Cristina: he praised the Argentine 'efforts.'"" Clarin published a facsimile of the text of the letter and quoted extensively from it throughout the article, claiming that ""Obama's message holds out another bridge with the President while a meeting between the two continues to go unscheduled, at a time when Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was just invited to Washington. But in Washington, Cristina's spirited defense of Obama did not go unnoticed last Friday when Hugo Chavez cast doubts (ref B) on the possibility of a positive change in U.S. policy toward the region with (President Obama's) arrival in power."" ¶5. (C) Comment: Argentine Obamamania seems to have prompted CFK to react euphorically to a routine, albeit warm and gracious, national day message. The media, including outlets not normally disposed to support CFK, seems to have accepted her interpretation that the letter is an exceptional White House overture to Argentina. Argentines have once again made a mountain out of a molehill -- but this time, happily, in our favor. We take it as a sign that CFK and many other Argentines are anxiously looking for signs of President Obama's favor. WAYNE