Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SAOPAULO696
2009-11-27 18:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sao Paulo
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: BRAZIL-U.S. RELATIONS

Tags:  OPRC OIIP BR XM XR KMDR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC OIIP BR XM XR KMDR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: BRAZIL-U.S. RELATIONS

Brazil, U.S. and Perceptions

Op-ed in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (11-26) by columnist Clovis
Rossi: "Marco Aurelio Garcia's interview, in which he talks about
the disappointment with Barack Obama's administration is strong,
but is far from representing a conflict, contrary to what parts of
the media have indicated. It seems much more like a call for
attention....with a [legitimate] argument, [of] Obama's negligence
with Latin America....The request worked: Obama's National Security
Advisor General James Jones called Marco Aurelio Garcia and
everything became clear.....There are only differing perceptions on
some issues.....Latin America is not a priority [for Obama] because
it is not a problem..... But if the issue is not well managed, it
may create a disturbance with Brazil and with a large part of Latin
America."



"Not Doing Well"

Op-ed in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (11-26) by columnist Eliane
Catanhede notes: "Brazil's relations with Iran are doing pretty
well, but we cannot say the same about Brazil's relations with the
U.S.....The letter Obama sent to Lula seems like an inventory of
the points of disagreement.....and things are going bad early.
Obama has just taken over, has major domestic difficulties, has not
obtained approval of all his nominees in Congress - not even
ambassador to Brazil - and cannot make advances in the Middle East,
in Afghanistan, and in the rapprochement with Latin America. And
the most curious thing is the imbalance of bilateral trade: US$4
billion surplus on the part of the U.S., a 284%
increase....wouldn't it be better if Brazilian exporters were the
ones doing well? The next round will be Copenhagen, with U.S. and
China on one side; and Brazil and France on the other."



A Desirable Peace

Op-ed in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (11-26) by President Lula's
international affairs advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia states: "Over
recent weeks the GOB has welcomed the leaders of Israel, the
Palestinian National Authority and Iran.....the three leaders
saw....in Brazilian diplomacy, especially in Lula, a possibility
to, through dialogue, advance towards a negotiated solution for a
conflict that transcends a regional dimension. [The conflict]
threatens world peace....Foreign policy themes...cannot be the
target of electoral opportunism...the dialogue that the GOB held
with Arab and Israeli communities in our country and in Latin
America is transparent and does not leave room for doubt about our
stance....this crystalline transparency differs from the murky
waters in which fishermen launch their bait, more to attract
incautious voters than to offer alternatives."
White