ARGENTINA SEEKS U.S PARTICIPATION AT FIFTH HEMISPHERIC

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000734 SIPDIS SENSITIVE PASS WHA/ODA FOR DICKSON USDOC FOR 4332/ITA/MAC/OLAC/APEACHER USDOC FOR 3134/USFCS/OIO/WH/RD/BBRISSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KDEM KSUM EAID KPAO BEXP AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA SEEKS U.S PARTICIPATION AT FIFTH HEMISPHERIC SUMMIT OF MAYORS ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request for WHA/PDA and USDOC/USFCS/OIO/WH. Please see para 5 for request. ¶2. (SBU) CDA Kelly attended a June 22 MFA briefing for all Western Hemisphere missions on the Fifth Hemispheric Summit of Mayors and Local Officials to be held, September 2-4 in Mar del Plata, Argentina. During the briefing, Foreign Minister Taiana explained that the summit's main objective is to provide a forum for municipal leaders from the Americas to discuss common policy challenges and new trends in public administration. In particular, the summit will touch on the following themes: citizen security, municipal diplomacy, citizen participation, social inclusion, poverty reduction, effective city planning, financing local investment, decentralization and empowerment in Latin America, improving the quality of public services, and city integration/urban transit. ¶3. (SBU) FM Taiana added that the summit would also feature a trade fair allowing companies from throughout the Americas to showcase their technologies and services to the assembled municipal authorities from all over the hemisphere. The conference is being organized by the Latin American Federation of Cities, Municipalities, and Local Governmental Organizations and the Argentine Municipalities Federation (AMF),and consulting firm IC-Argentina. GOA asks for Help to Bolster U.S. Summit Participation -------------- ¶4. (SBU) After the FM's briefing, both FM Taiana and AMF President Julio Cesar Pereyra privately told CDA that they were interested in attracting U.S. participation in this year's summit. Pereyra noted that past summits had not attracted significant U.S. participation. He indicated that he will soon travel to Ohio and Florida to recruit mayors to attend the Summit. CDA offered to meet with AMF executives to learn more about opportunities available for U.S. companies during the Summit and discuss how the Embassy can support the initiative. Pereyra agreed, and a meeting has been scheduled for July 8. ¶5. (SBU) Action request: The Summit may offer U.S. firms the opportunity to showcase their innovative consulting and technology solutions and services to help local governments improve performance in the face of complex urban challenges. It also provides an excellent opportunity to bring down a speaker who specializes in urban planning and development or public administration. Finally, the summit may also provide an excellent opportunity to promote sister-city relationships between U.S., Latin American, and Caribbean cities. Post would appreciate guidance from the Department and our USDOC colleagues on other ways we can support this worthwhile initiative. Further information about the Summit can be accessed at: http://www.cumbredealcaldes.com. KELLY