VZCZCXRO6578
PP RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHQU RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHBU #2123/01 2612048
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 182048Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5941
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNMRC/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 1718
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUENOS AIRES 002123
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA TOM SHANNON, JOHN MAISTO, AND CHARLES SHAPIRO
NSC FOR DAN FISK
TREASURY FOR DAS NANCY LEE
USCINCSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: CLOSE KIRCHNER ASSOCIATE ON U.S. AND
VENEZUELA RELATIONS AND DOMESTIC POLITICS
REF: BUENOS AIRES 01901
Classified By: CDA, a.i., Michael Matera, Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On September 11, Charge and Poloffs
(notetakers) met with Congressman and longtime Kirchner
associate Carlos Kunkel that included a wide-ranging
discussion on bilateral relations, Venezuela and Argentine
politics. Kunkel noted that the GOA has many points of
cooperation with the USG and said that Argentina appreciates
the help the U.S. provided the country during the economic
crisis. Turning to Venezuela, Kunkel emphasized the economic
nature of the GOA's relationship with the Chavez government.
On domestic politics, Kunkel lamented the lack of a viable
opposition in Argentina and defended the GOA's use of public
works funds. The meeting closed with the Charge providing
Kunkel a copy of Ambassador Wayne's congressional testimony,
and Kunkel expressing confidence that Ambassador Wayne would
be a good Ambassador. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On September 11, Charge and Poloffs (notetakers)
met with Congressman and longtime Kirchner associate Carlos
Kunkel that included a wide-ranging discussion on bilateral
relations, Venezuela and Argentine politics. Carlos Kunkel
has a close relationship with President Nestor Kirchner that
stretches back more than 30 years. Kunkel notes that he was
Kirchner's first employer when Kirchner entered law school in
La Plata in the early 1970s where Kunkel was an
upperclassman. Kunkel is associated with the more radical
left-wing side of the Kirchner movement and was responsible
for managing First Lady Cristina Kirchner's Senate campaign
in Buenos Aires province during last October's elections.
Kunkel began the discussion by welcoming the Charge back to
Argentina and highlighting the importance of a good dialogue
between the two governments, despite any differences that
might exist. Charge replied that the USG was very pleased
with the fluid dialogue that existed with the GOA.
3. (SBU) Kunkel noted that the GOA has many points of
cooperation with the USG and Kunkel said that Argentina
appreciates the help the U.S. provided the country during
Argentina's economic crisis. Kunkel said that the GOA has
great respect for the U.S. and that ""you will not see
officially-backed demonstrations in the street directed
against the U.S."" Kunkel said that he and his colleagues do
not want to publicly comment on the bilateral relationship
and prefer to leave those matters to the professionals in the
Foreign Ministry. Kunkel also noted that the U.S. naturally
has a much larger role in the world than Argentina and that
Argentina does not want to meddle in any other country's
domestic affairs.
4. (SBU) Turning to Venezuela, Kunkel emphasized the
economic nature of the GOA's relationship with the Chavez
government. ""If someone offers us a better price for our
bonds, we will go with them, much the same as I imagine you
would stop buying Venezuelan oil and go with another supplier
if you could get a better price."" Kunkel downplayed the
ideological nature of the GOA-GOV relationship, saying that
the Venezuelan style of democracy and politics is very
different from that of Argentina. Kunkel said that in
particular, the use of political violence would never be
accepted in Argentina. ""We do not base our relations on
ideology. For example, we were among the first to support
Uruguay's Tabare Vazquez when he was running for President,
but when the controversy arose regarding the paper mills, we
defended the rights of the affected residents against the
Uruguayan government.""
5. (SBU) Moving to domestic politics, Kunkel lamented the
lack of a viable opposition in Argentina. ""It would be
better if the 20-25 percent of the population that does not
agree with us had leaders that actually represented them.""
Kunkel said that opposition leaders like former President
Raul Alfonsin and Republican Proposal (PRO) leader Ricardo
Lopez Murphy lack public support. ""In the last elections,
Lopez Murphy came in fifth place in Buenos Aires province,
BUENOS AIR 00002123 002 OF 002
and yet he complains that President Kirchner does not consult
with him. Would Bush consult with someone who came in fifth
in some U.S. state before he made a decision?"" Kunkel also
said that Alfonsin has no right to accuse Kirchner of
destroying the opposition Radical Civic Union (UCR).
""Alfonsin has run the UCR for 30 years. Under Alfonsin's
leadership, the party went from winning 52 percent of the
vote in 1983 to 2 percent of the vote in 2003, all before
Kirchner came to office.""
6. (SBU) Kunkel defended the GOA's management of public
works contracts, arguing that the funds are equitably
distributed. ""I was in Alfonsin's hometown of Chascomus the
other day helping to inaugurate a large new public housing
project. The UCR mayor, who is not aligned with us, was
taking credit for the whole project. In fact, all of the
funds came from the national government.""
7. (SBU) Turning to the subject of the arrival of Ambassador
Wayne, Charge provided a copy of Ambassador Wayne's
congressional testimony to Kunkel. (Note: Carlos Kunkel was
one of the main Kirchner allies who reacted negatively to
reports of Ambassador Wayne's testimony during his
congressional confirmation hearings, and Kunkel publicly
accused Ambassador Wayne of defending former President Carlos
Menem's policies, based on inaccurate local press reports of
Wayne's testimony. End Note.) Kunkel said that he had no
doubt that Ambassador Wayne would be a good Ambassador, and
he looked forward to continued good relations with the U.S.
Embassy.
8. (C) COMMENT: The meeting with Carlos Kunkel followed a
familiar script used by all of Kirchner's officials -- speak
nicely to U.S. diplomats in private while criticizing the
U.S. or U.S. policy in public. In Kunkel's case, it is even
more difficult to believe. Kunkel, an ex-Montonero, has been
a prominent participant or organizer in nearly every leftist
demonstration that has enjoyed tacit Casa Rosada support
during the last three years, from the Counter-Summit at Mar
del Plata last November, to the piquetero march against Juan
Carlos Blumberg two weeks ago. As Kunkel indicated, however,
it is better to have a fluid dialogue, despite the
disagreements, than to have disagreements with poor
communication. We will continue to engage Carlos Kunkel from
time to time to ensure that his disagreements with the U.S.
are voiced privately, and not to the Argentine press. END
COMMENT.
MATERA
=======================CABLE ENDS============================