VZCZCXYZ0024
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBU #2559/01 3201527
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161527Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6481
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002559
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC,
WHA/EPSC
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT BUSH'S ASIAN TOUR; AMBASSADOR WAYNE;
ARGENTINE-IRANIAN TIES; CENTRAL AMERICA; 11/15/06; BUENOS AIRES
1. SUMMARY STATEMENT
Today's leading international stories include President Bush's Asian
tour; the status of Argentine-Iranian ties following the latest
developments in the AMIA bombing probe; the situation in Central
America in the aftermath of Daniel Ortega's election as the new
president of Nicaragua and Panama's entry as a non-permanent member
of the UNSC. Local papers heavily report on Ambassador Wayne's
meetings with Argentine Ministers Julio De Vido and Felisa Miceli.
2. FRONT-PAGE HEADLINES ON AMBASSADOR WAYNE'S MEETINGS WITH
MINISTERS MICELI AND DE VIDO
- Liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald" "US$ 4 billion in
investment." "Federal Planning Minister Julio de Vido met yesterday
with US Ambassador Earl Wayne at the Economy Ministry. Following the
meeting, De Vido said that new investment from the US would reach
four billion dollars over the next two years, mostly in the energy
sector. Wayne also met with Economy Minister Felisa Miceli who
requested that the US extend trade preferences with Argentina that
expire by the end of the year."
- Business-financial, center-right "InfoBae" "US Ambassador promises
investment." "Following his meeting with Planning Minister Julio De
Vido, the new US Ambassador to Argentina said: 'We also spoke about
the impressive economic growth of Argentina during the last four
years.'"
- Conservative "La Prensa." "A request to the US" "The Argentine
Government is concerned about trade preferences." "Ambassador Wayne
underlined the role played by US companies in the Argentine economic
recovery... De Vido said that US companies will invest some 4
billion dollars in the energy sector during the next two years."
- Business-financial "El Cronista" (11/15) "Competition for digital
TV standard is reactivated." "Several diplomatic contacts have been
made during recent days to discuss the selection of a digital TV
standard for the country. The US Ambassador promoted the American
standard with De Vido. Europeans will follow suit with President
(Kirchner)."
4. OPINION PIECES
- "Bush will start an Asian tour that will test his foreign policy"
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (11/15) "US President George W.
Bush started a tour that could reflect how much international
influence he will maintain until the end of his administration in
2009.
"The White House prepared a loaded agenda. Bush will first stop in
Russia, where he will meet with Vladimir Putin and then he will
visit Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia, the largest Muslim country
where there have been anti-President Bush demonstrations for more
than a week, most of them small and peaceful.
"At the end of this month Bush will fly to Lithuania and Estonia,
where he will meet again with Putin and the leaders of France,
Jacques Chirac, and of Germany, Angela Merkel, during the NATO
summit.
"US President Bush's tour will officially focus on commercial...
issues. However, the guidelines of his foreign policy (North Korean
and Iranian nuclear programs and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan)
will repeatedly appear during his trip."
5. EDITORIALS
- "Argentina's ties with Iran"
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" editorializes (11/15) "Federal Judge
Rodolfo Canicoba Coral's decision to consider the attack against the
AMIA a crime against humanity and order the international capture of
nine Iranian government officials is a positive step, which should
be appreciated. However, due to the features of the probe and the
international impact of the case, the Argentine Government should
handle the issue in a firm and prudent way...
"... The request for international arrest warrants gave way to
mounting tension between Argentina and Iran, which refused to
deliver the alleged masterminds of the attack to the judiciary.
"Obviously, Iranian authorities did nothing but hinder the action of
the judiciary and, therefore, they are damaging ties between the two
countries.
"... Currently, Argentina and Iran seem to be heading for an
increasing confrontation that could lead to the rupture of
diplomatic ties between the two countries.
"We should support the recent judicial decision and underline the
support of the international community in its efforts to put an end
to this episode, which has been marked by the action of terrorism."
- "Central American prospects"
Leading "Clarin" editorializes (11/15) "The return of Daniel Ortega
as president of Nicaragua and Panama's entry as a non permanent
member of the UN Security Council are two new elements in Central
America, which is quite different from the one we have known until
just some years ago.
"... Peace and democracy are two values that Central America has
conquered. It has a huge task ahead - that of consolidating both
peace and democracy by fostering its economic and social
development."
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
WAYNE