MEDIA REACTION: MONTREAL FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000068 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 HA AR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: MONTREAL FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORTS; U.S. ROLE IN HAITI; 01/26/09; BUENOS AIRES SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; MONTREAL FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORTS; U.S. ROLE IN HAITI; 01/26/10; BUENOS AIRES SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Local newspapers report on the Montreal First International Conference for Haitian Relief Efforts, highlighting that Canada and humanitarian NGOs called wealthy countries to cancel Haitian debt. Some papers picked up an Embassy press release on the U.S. Southern Command's 50,000 dollar donation of medical supplies for the Argentine Mobile Hospital. On the negative side, one columnist accused President Obama of resuming U.S. interventionism in the Caribbean, using humanitarian aid as an excuse. Another opinion piece echoed ALBA (Bolivarian Partnership for the Americas)'s claims that there is an excessive U.S. troop deployment. Two local radio stations picked up very positive testimonies of Argentines in the process of adopting Haitian children, who thanked the U.S. Embassy for facilitating the issuance of emergency visas. End summary. MONTREAL CONFERENCE: SKEPTICISM ABOUT AID, FOCUS ON DEBT CANCELLATION -------------- ¶2. Media reports on the Montreal First International Conference for Haitian Relief Efforts were somewhat skeptical, claiming that Haiti will need at least ten years to rebuild. Pro-U.S., conservative La Prensa notes that Secretary Clinton, who attended the Montreal Conference, acknowledged the need to find better coordination mechanisms in Haiti. La Prensa printed an AP story doubting Haiti's real chances of reconstruction, citing the country's lack of an efficient government, the fact that the earthquake aborted its economic recovery, and that corruption could deviate aid funds. La Prensa also reports that the Davos World Economic Forum, which kicks off January 27, will also tackle how to help Haiti. ¶3. Both La Prensa and business-financial Ambito Financiero note that Canada and humanitarian NGOs called on wealthy countries to cancel Haitian debts. Both papers highlight that Venezuelan Hugo Chavez took the first step by cancelling Haiti's 300-million-dollar debt for oil purchase. 
 SOUTHCOM DONATION FOR ARGENTINE HOSPITAL PRAISED -------------- ¶4. Leading circulation Clarin, La Prensa and state-owned Telam wire service agency all picked up an Embassy press release highlighting Southcom's 50,000 dollar donation for the Argentine Air Force's Mobile Hospital. (Note: Clarin ran a separate editorial praising Argentina's humanitarian aid for Haitians not only through the country's participation in Blue Helmets but also through its sanitary assistance and official and non-governmental support. End Note). Under the headline "Funds to Argentine hospital," Clarin reported that Southcom's donation would help the hospital provide care to thousands of victims. Clarin also quoted Ambassador Martinez' remarks that "This modest donation in the expert hands of the military medical staff is only another small step in addressing the most urgent needs of the Haitian people." State-owned news agency Telam also quoted Ambassador Martinez: "We are proud to work with the Argentine government and the forces of the UN Stabilization Mission to help the Haitian people during this devastating crisis." http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/01/26/opini on/o-02127192.htm PRESIDENT OBAMA RESUMES U.S. INTERVENTIONISM IN THE CARIBBEAN -------------- ¶5. Pro-government, business-financial Buenos Aires Economico (BAE) alleges that the U.S. troop deployment in Haiti is a return to an "historic U.S. interventionism in the Caribbean," accusing President Obama of using the humanitarian aid as an excuse. Under the headline "An arm-wrestling between Obama and Lula," BAE blames the U.S. for Haiti being a failed state. ¶6. The paper also accuses President Obama of ignoring Brazil's leadership of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUTASH), noting that the U.S. delegated the reconstruction of the country to Southern Cone countries after the 1994 U.S. Pentagon-staged coup d'etat against Jean Bertrand Aristide. The paper claims that Brazil is not the only country that mistrusts the U.S., adding that French Cooperation Minister Alan Joyandet submitted a formal complaint to the U.S. stating, "We seek to help Haiti, not occupy it." ALBA PROTESTS EXCESSIVE U.S. TROOP DEPLOYMENT -------------- ¶7. Pro-government, left-of-center Pagina 12 protests the excessive U.S. troop deployment, noting that ALBA (Bolivarian Partnership for the Americas) voiced its "concern over the excessive presence of foreign troops without any reason, purpose, venues or time of permanence," in veiled reference to the U.S. troops. On the other hand, the paper admits that Brazilian FM Celso Amorim denied that the 20,000 U.S. troops created any kind of conflicts with MINUTASH. http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/3- 139051-2010-01-26.html ADOPTIONS IN HAITI -------------- ¶8. Some radio stations picked up testimonies of Argentines in the process of adopting Haitian children. They stressed that the U.S. Embassy in Haiti managed to let them receive the children and also facilitated emergency visa procedures. To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires MARTINEZ MARTINEZ