ARGENTINA: ARGENTINES PLAY UP AMBASSADOR-INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000092

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2038
TAGS: PREL PGOV AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: ARGENTINES PLAY UP AMBASSADOR-INTERIOR
MINISTER MEETING TO COUNTER VISIT TO CUBA

REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 00075

B. BUENOS AIRES 00091

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR WAYNE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
& (D).


1. (SBU) Summary: The GOA heavily advertised the January 22
meeting of Ambassador Wayne and Interior Minister Randazzo,
billing it as a GOA "gesture" to the USG which was widely
interpreted as an effort to balance President Cristina
Fernandez de Kirchner's trip to Cuba and Venezuela (reftels)
and reassure Washington of its goodwill. In reality, the
Ambassador had arranged the meeting earlier, but we were
happy to accept the public signal that bilateral relations
are important.


2. (SBU) After an intense photo spray at the top of the
meeting, the Ambassador and Randazzo discussed future areas
of cooperation between the U.S. and Argentina under the new
Obama administration. Congratulating the Ambassador on
President Obama's inauguration, Randazzo said he was struck
by the large number of Americans that braved the cold to
witness the historic occasion. The Ambassador expressed
appreciation for the Embassy's close cooperation with
Interior Ministry personnel and said he hoped Argentina and
the USG would be able to work together in April during the
upcoming G-20 Summit and Summit of Americas respectively.
The Minister expressed interest in strengthening bilateral
cooperation on immigration issues, establishing a new
Argentine visa to help Fulbright scholars, and in convening a
working group to discuss opportunities for future
cooperation. He also said Argentina would delay imposing
visa charges on U.S. tourists. The Ambassador also
capitalized on an on-the-spot media interview after the
meeting to broadcast our message for enhanced bilateral
relations at the dawn of the new Obama administration. End
Summary.


3. (C) In his first meeting with a GOA cabinet official
following President Obama's inauguration, Ambassador Wayne
met with Minister of Interior Florencio Randazzo on January

22. Relaying his congratulations on President Obama's
inauguration, Randazzo said he was struck by the large number
of Americans that braved the cold weather to witness the
historic occasion. Like President Cristina Fernandez de
Kirchner (CFK),Randazzo said he found President Obama's
remarks that "the world has changed and nobody can ignore it"
particularly noteworthy (reftel). He added that President
Obama faces a critical challenge in managing high
expectations as he assumes a post with such enormous
responsibility. The Ambassador noted that the new Obama
administration will provide the USG with an opportunity to
redefine its bilateral relationships, including with more
difficult countries like Venezuela and Cuba, and its
relations with Latin America at large. He said he hoped
Argentina and the USG would be able to work together in April
during the G-20 Summit in London and the Summit of Americas
in Trinidad and Tobago respectively. (Comment: The
Ambassador had set the meeting sometime before, but it was
moved up two hours and advertised to the press early January

22. We understand Randazzo had met on the evening of January
21 at the Presidential residence in Olivos, and we believe
they then decided to highlight the meeting as a way to
counter the negative media coverage of CFK's January 20 visit
to Cuba.)

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Collaborating with Argentina
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4. (SBU) The Ambassador expressed appreciation for the strong
cooperation the Embassy receives from the Ministry of
Interior's Immigration Department. In particular, he
commended Immigration Director Arias Duval's support several
months ago of a potential evacuation to Argentina of U.S.
Peace Corps personnel in Bolivia. He noted that while this
potential evacuation ultimately did not take place, the
Embassy was grateful for Duval's immediate and thorough
response.


5. (C) The Ambassador asked Randazzo about future areas of
cooperation, noting that the Embassy already works closely
with a number of GOA agencies, including the Ministry of
Justice and the National Institute against Discrimination,
Racism, and Xenophobia (INADI) on immigration,
trafficking-in-persons, and discrimination issues. The
Ambassador offered to expand cooperation with the MOI on
trafficking-in-persons and human smuggling issues. He
observed that many Africans and Chinese nationals appear to
be misusing Argentina's open immigration regulations to
transit Argentina en route to their final destination, which
often is the United States. Randazzo said he would be
interested in convening a working group on immigration, in
particular on strengthening the border. The Ambassador
underscored his interest in maintaining an open dialogue with
GOA officials, stressing that the Minister should not
hesitate to contact the Ambassador should he need additional
information or have questions about Embassy activities.

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On Visas and Reciprocal Entry Fees
--------------


6. (C) The Ambassador then raised the difficulties U.S.
scholars consistently encounter when applying for Argentine
visas after their tourist visas expire after 90 days. He
previewed the Embassy's efforts with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to forge an agreement that provides visa reciprocity
between our two countries for Fulbright scholars, and noted
that the MFA will likely consult with the MOI's Immigration
Department on the matter. He pointed out that the binational
Fulbright Program is successful, with 120 Argentine scholars
traveling to the U.S. annually and 25 U.S. citizens traveling
to Argentina for one year of study or work at universities.
Randazzo supported creating a visa category to deal with this
problem. Ambassador also asked Randazzo if the GOA was still
planning to charge, by March 1, reciprocal entry fees to U.S.
citizens arriving at Ezeiza International airport. Randazzo
acknowledged that although the GOA had not discarded the
plan, it may not be the "best time" to start implementing the
fees given the current economic crisis.

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On the Economy and the Farm Sector
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7. (C) After asking the Ambassador about the impact of the
economic crisis on the United States, Randazzo asserted that
the crisis has not affected Argentina yet. He claimed that
for the first time in its history, Argentina has experienced
six years of consecutive growth. He noted that the GOA is
working hard in 134 cities in Buenos Aires province to expand
housing and improve basic necessities, such as running water,
as part of the "Republic Plan." He said he was organizing a
special effort to hold events in each of the Buenos Aires
suburbs to unveil new public works projects as part of CFK's
anti-cyclical economic plan. On the farm conflict, he said
the GOA is hoping to restore its relations with the rural
sector by distributing a second installment of financial aid
to the provinces most severely affected by the drought as
part of "Drought Plan II." Randazzo lamented that some
leaders continue to politicize the GOA's relations with the
farm sector.

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Positive Press Coverage of the Meeting
--------------


8. (SBU) Randazzo's office took the unusual step of sending a
press release in advance of the meeting, and the results were
evident. Right after the meeting, the Ambassador faced a
larger-than-usual media pack of print and broadcast
journalists and took questions for roughly 10 minutes. He
highlighted the opportunities for improved relations between
Argentina and the United States at the onset of the new
administration. His remarks were broadcast live by 24/7 news
channels and widely reported on radio throughout the day and
during prime-time evening news programs. The morning of
January 23, all 11 city newspapers carried prominent and
largely positive stories on the meeting, which was widely
interpreted as the first step in a new era of bilateral
relations. An analyst in leading daily "La Nacion" said the
GOA sought to enhance the meeting's public profile to
compensate for the diplomatic mishap of having CFK in Cuba
during President Obama's inauguration.

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BIO
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9. (SBU) Born on March 1, 1964 in Chivilcoy, Buenos Aires
province, Randazzo obtained an accounting degree from the
University of Buenos Aires in 1989 and attended postgraduate
studies at the Argentine Business University and at the
National University of La Plata. He served as government
minister in Buenos Aires province and provincial cabinet
chief from 2003 to 2004. From 2002 to 2003, he was
provincial secretary for state modernization and vice
president of the Peronist bloc in the Buenos Aires provincial
Chamber of Deputies from 1999 to 2001. In 1995, he was the

promotion director in the Buenos Aires province Interior
Ministry. He served as president of the Chivilcoy City
Council from 1993 to 1995, and director of the Chivilcoy
District Secretary General Office from 1992 to 1993.
Randazzo's supporters cite his low-profile, formal diplomatic
manners, and keen negotiation skills as his best qualities,
while his critics say he is only interested in personal gain.
Randazzo has an 11 year old son and a daughter a few years
younger. He is a good communicator in groups and one-on-one.



10. (SBU) Comment: Ambassador Wayne took advantage of the
positive government disposition in the first days of the new
administration to solicit views on prospects for increased
cooperation. The Minister's receptivity to strengthening
bilateral relations through concrete steps on immigration was
encouraging. The Ambassador was also able to capitalize on
the media's strong inclination to see an improvement in
relations to get wide coverage (print, radio, and television)
of the positive message coming out of the meeting.

WAYNE