ARGENTINA SUGGESTS SOLUTION TO CONTROVERSY OVER ITS CLAIM

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000868

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR OES/OA EVAN BLOOM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTBS PHSA AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA SUGGESTS SOLUTION TO CONTROVERSY OVER ITS CLAIM
TO ANTARTIC CONTINENTAL SHELF

REF: A) BUENOS AIRES 0474; B) BUENOS AIRES 0641


1. (SBU) ADCM and ESTCouns met on July 22 at the Argentine MFA with
Rafael Grossi, Director General for Political Coordination and a
close advisor to Foreign Minister (FM) Jorge Taiana, regarding the
issue of Argentina's submission of its claim to the Antarctic
continental platform. Grossi reiterated that the GoA considered its
presentation to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental
Shelf (CLCS) on April 21 to have been "within the spirit and
parameters of the 7 plus 2 agreement," while admitting that the text
did not follow the agreement "word for word." He noted that the GoA
had explained to the USG and to the other 7 plus 2 members the
reasons behind the wording of its submission (ref A),and stressed
that Argentina never had any intention to question the Antarctic
Treaty or the 7 plus 2 Agreement. "The agreement was a long and
complex negotiation," he said, adding "Argentina attaches great
importance to cooperation in the Antarctic and wants to preserve an
atmosphere of collegiality."


2. (SBU) Grossi acknowledged that the GoA had taken note of the
concerns that the United States and other 7 plus 2 members had
expressed and wanted to "explore ways to reach a compromise." He
suggested a proposal, whereby the GoA would take advantage of the
August 24 meeting of the CLCS on Argentina's claim to state to the
Commission that "Argentina understands that the rules of the CLCS
specifically stipulate that certain areas are excluded from
consideration. Our submission is not for consideration."


3. (SBU) ESTCouns requested further clarification regarding the
exact language the GoA would use and inquired if the GoA would
consider using the exact same language in its August 24 oral
statement to the Commission that it should have used in its written
submission in April (i.e. specifically requesting that the
Commission not take any action for the time being with regard to the
information in the submission that relates to the Antarctic
continental shelf.) Grossi replied that the wording of the GoA's
statement could certainly be worked on, but he asked for our
understanding that the GOA was "walking a fine line." What the GoA
did not want, he stressed, was to re-issue its original note or
issue a written correction to the original note. He noted that an
oral statement made at the CLCS' August 24 hearing would become part
of the written public record of the meeting.


4. (SBU) ADCM told Grossi that post would transmit Argentina's
proposal back to Washington. Grossi stressed that he was available
at any time for further discussion of the proposal or of the
language to be used.


5. (SBU) Comment: Relentless pressure, not only from the United
States but also from other members of the 7 plus 2 group, has
definitely had some effect on the Argentines. The GoA appears to
have understood that its original explanation will not do and is
clearly trying to find a way to resolve the situation without losing
face. From post's point of view, the bottom line is that there
appears to have been some progress in that the GoA now appears more
willing to communicate directly to the CLCS; most probably with the
exact language we wanted them to use; and orally, but with the
understanding that their oral statement can become part of the
written record of the August 24 session of the CLCS. Given the
political sensitivity of this issue in Argentina (ref B),we believe
it unlikely that the GoA would be willing to go much further than
the solution it proposes. End Comment.

FEATHERSTONE