VZCZCXRO2105
PP RUEHRG
DE RUEHSO #0167/01 0601608
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011608Z MAR 07
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6508
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7612
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 2957
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 2669
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 2302
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 3256
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0461
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 1515
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2014
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 3421
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 7864
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2734
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 0665
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAO PAULO 000167
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/FO, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, WHA/PDA
STATE ALSO FOR P, S/P, E, PA, IIP, ECA
STATE PASS USTR FOR CRONIN
STATE PASS EXIMBANK
STATE PASS OPIC FOR DMORONESE, NRIVERA, CVERVENNE
NSC FOR FEARS
TREASURY FOR OASIA, DAS LEE AND JHOEK
USDOC FOR 4332/ITA/MAC/WH/OLAC
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USCS/OIO/WH/RD
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
USAID FOR LAC/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC OEXP KPAO PREL PGOV SCUL BR
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' SPEECH IN SAO PAULO, FEBRUARY 6,
2007; MEDIA ACTIVITIES AND MEDIA REACTION
REF: 06 SAO PAULO 1083
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SUMMARY
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1. (U) Summary: In a speech at the new American Studies Center at
the Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation (FAAP) in Sao Paulo February
6, Under Secretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns
highlighted common challenges and opportunities that Brazil and the
U.S. face and called for strengthening our bilateral relations and
common engagement in the hemisphere. Questions from the respectful
and largely academic audience touched on bilateral cooperation on
biofuels (including the U.S. ethanol tariff), the environment, and
regional issues. On the margins of the FAAP event, U/S Burns also
gave several media interviews that, as the speech itself, garnered
ample and positive coverage.
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SPEECH AT FAAP
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2. (U) Under Secretary Burns delivered a speech at the Armando
Alvares Penteado Foundation (FAAP), a private university in Sao
Paulo which is in the process of establishing an American Studies
Program (reftel). The speech, sponsored jointly by FAAP, ConGen Sao
Paulo, AmCham, and the Sao Paulo State Federation of Industries
(FIESP), was attended by approximately 250 guests, including
students and faculty, and broadcast to FAAP campuses in Sao Jose dos
Campos and Ribeirao Preto. U/S Burns cited similarities between
Brazil and the United States and the common challenges faced by the
two countries in fighting organized crime and drug trafficking and
other areas as well. He called for strengthening bilateral
relations and for partnering to promote investment in research and
development on biofuels. U/S Burns also discussed the "celebration
of democracy" represented by the 13 elections held in the Western
Hemisphere in 2006, and said the U.S was prepared to work with all
democratically elected governments, including leftist governments.
The text of U/S Burns's remarks can be found on the Department
website at http://www.state.gov/p/us/rm as well as Embassy
Brasilia's website at www.embaixadaamericana.org.br.
3. (U) Questions focused on bilateral cooperation on
energy and environment, and on the prospects for the U.S. to open
its market to ethanol imports. U/S Burns praised Brazil's
leadership in ethanol production and flex-fuel engine automobiles.
He noted that Congress imposed the 54-cent per gallon
surcharge/tariff on imported ethanol and was not likely to remove it
in the near future. The answer, he said, was to expand the global
ethanol market. One participant cited polls showing that Latin
Americans are dissatisfied with democracy because the economies of
the region have neither grown adequately over the past twenty years
nor ended severe economic inequality, and that there is growing
anti-American sentiment in the region. U/S Burns agreed on the
importance of economic growth and strengthening democracy, and
acknowledged that sometimes U.S. policies and attitudes rub people
the wrong way and contribute to anti-Americanism. A/S Shannon
described USG engagement in the OAS to address democracy,
development, poverty, inequality, and social exclusion.
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MEDIA COVERAGE
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SAO PAULO 00000167 002 OF 002
5. (U) Under Secretary Burns participated in several media events,
including an exclusive interview with TV Globo and an on-the-record
media roundtable that included top editors and correspondents from
11 leading Brazilian and international print media such as AP, the
Washington Post, Reuters and AFP. His speech at FAAP was also open
to the press and received ample coverage. U/S Burns' remarks were
the leading story on the front page of largest-circulation Brazilian
daily "Folha de Sao Paulo," which titled its story, "The United
States Wants a Strategic Partnership on Ethanol." "O Estado de Sao
Paulo," business dailies Valor Economico and Gazeta Mercantil, and
the wire services AP and AFP also featured Burns' remarks on
biofuels and Venezuela. The TV Globo interview aired on the
nationally broadcast late night news, Jornal do Brasil. The media
also reported on his comments on USG views on Venezuela and Hugo
Chavez. Radio Jovem Pan and the internet news portal Terra
interviewed A/S Shannon; his comments on Venezuela were widely
reported by the media.
6. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Brasilia and cleared
by U/S Burns's delegation and Ambassador Sobel.
MCMULLEN