MEDIA REACTION: IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM; 2/11-16/10; BUENOS

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000178

SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR PREL AR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM; 2/11-16/10; BUENOS
AIRES

SUMMARY

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1. Argentine President Kirchner's invitation from President Obama
to attend a nuclear summit in April received large, positive press
coverage. Newspapers also widely reported on Iran's 31st
Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, with articles highlighting
the Iranian government trying to suppress opponents and heavily
controlling media access to the demonstrations. End summary.



PRESIDENT CRISTINA KIRCHNER

ACCEPTS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S INVITATION

TO ATTEND NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT,

NEW US SANCTIONS ON IRAN

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2. Ranging from largest circulation Clarin to pro-government,
business-financial Buenos Aires Economico, most 2/11 newspapers and
TV stations extensively quoted President Obama's letter inviting
President Cristina Kirchner to attend the April 12-13 Nuclear
Security Summit. Second largest newspaper La Nacion highlighted
that the Argentine government expects to use the visit to hold a
bilateral meeting between President Obama and President Cristina
Kirchner.




3. Pro-government, left-of-center Pagina 12 (2/12) reported that
the Argentine Foreign Ministry reported President Cristina Kirchner
will attend the Nuclear Security Summit. The article notes that
attending leaders to the summit will likely discuss Iran's uranium
enrichment policy and the diversification of energy sources
promoted by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.


http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 231881



http://www.telam.com.ar/vernota.php?tipo=N&id Pub=177218&id=340239&d
is=1&sec=1


http://www.ambito.com/noticia.asp?id=507339



http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-14 0138-2010-02-12.html




4. Ambito Financiero's weekly opinion column (2/15) labeled
Argentine President Kirchner as the "star" of April's nuclear
summit, and the only regional leader to participate in the summit.
The column believes President Obama's invitation is a reward to
Kirchner for being "faithful" to Obama's nuclear agenda against
Iran. This is in contrast to neighboring Brazil, whose public
disagreement with the U.S. over Iran's nuclear program is "limiting
its friendship with the U.S."




5. Clarin, La Nacion and conservative, business-financial Ambito
Financiero (2/11) also reprinted international newswires on the
U.S. Treasury Department's decision to slap new sanctions on
several affiliates of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps over their
alleged involvement in producing and spreading WMD. Under the
headline "Obama activates sanctions against Iran; Israel demands to
'suffocate now,'" Ambito Financiero highlighted that Israel wants
"suffocating economic sanctions (against Iran) now."


http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/02/11/elmun do/i-02137632.htm


http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 231774



http://www.ambito.com/diario/noticia.asp?id=5 07396



PROTESTING DURING THE REVOLUTION ANNIVERSARY

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6. Javier Martin, centrist Critica's correspondent in Tehran,
reported (2/12) on large opposition attendance at President
Ahmadinejad's speech on the 31st Anniversary of the Islamic
Revolution, despite the "vast police showing" and "extremely hard"
repression by the police. Martin also commented on Iran's
censorship of the press, as this celebration is the first time
"three decades" that the press "could not report freely" on the
event. Finally, Martin quotes anonymous State Department sources
as saying that Iran's announcement shows that its intentions are
"everything but peaceful."


http://criticadigital.com/impresa/index.php?s ecc=nota&nid=38382




7. Newswires about "police repression" appeared in Clarin, La
Nacion, and Ambito Financiero on 2/12. Clarin's newswire reported
on the "still undetermined amount of injured and arrested" from the
opposition's "clash several times with police," while La Nacion
mentioned the White House's support of "universal human rights"
with regards to the protests. New York Times' columnist David
Sanger's opinion article on President Obama's "three bets to dilute
the conflict" with Iran also appeared in La Nacion.


http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/02/12/elmun do/i-02138523.htm


http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 232219


http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 232221




8. Ambito Financiero quoted State Department Spokesman Philip
Crowley denouncing Iran's repression, which indicates a country
"that fears its own people." It also had a second newswire
specifically reporting on Iranian and U.S. disagreements over
whether Iran has the capability to enrich uranium to 80%.




9. On 2/16, Ambito Financiero also covered JCS Chairman Mullen's
meeting with Israeli Defense Secretary Barak and Mullen's defense
of diplomacy and sanctions against Iran. The article highlighted
U.S. support of Israel and the fact that a "military attack was
still on the table," even though the U.S. wants to impose tougher
sanctions first.





To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website
at:

http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
MARTINEZ