INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Media Reaction; the Latin American Populist Model; The

Published: Fri 15 Jun 2007 03:25 PM
VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBU #1177/01 1661525
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151525Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8416
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001177
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: MEDIA REACTION; THE LATIN AMERICAN POPULIST MODEL; THE
OUTCOME OF THE G8 SUMMIT; VISA WAIVER PROGRAM EXPANSION; 06/15/07
1. SUMMARY STATEMENT
Today's international leading stories cover Latin America's populist
model; the lack of progress made by the G8 summit in terms of the
social and environmental agenda; and the Visa Waiver Program.
2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS
- "The hypnotic populist model"
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an op-ed piece by writer Marcos
Aguinis, who opines (06/15) "No populist regime has managed (or
seriously wanted) to put an end to poverty, boost open education or
discourage fanaticism. Their programs are not intended to achieve
sustained and steady development. They are not interested in
protecting individual rights or the rule of law...
"... The populist model cannot help but fuel hatred... Peron versus
the oligarchy and opponents, Evo Morales versus white men, Chavez
versus the wealthy..., Kirchner versus the '90s...
"... The populist model also boosts utopia, this is to say, the
promise that it is making progress towards a wonderful future. It is
a phantom that is tenaciously repeated, just like blaming others and
the past to hide their own inefficiency... The hypnosis of repeating
that brilliant accomplishments have been made through the current
populist model and that it will achieve even better results is
confusing although convincing. Meanwhile, we are all satisfied with
the mediocrity of moving aimlessly.
"... In such a framework, one may not expect genuine and abundant
investment nor can we Argentines expect that the billions of dollars
sent abroad will ever return to the country...
"The democratic (non populist) socialist model of Chile, Brazil and
Uruguay is free from all the vices mentioned. They do not practice
the hypnosis of personalism, they do not manipulate the media, they
do not use their budget in a discretionary way, they do not
encourage hatred, they do not despise the rule of law, they do not
infringe on judicial stability, they do not disqualify opponents,
they do not scare investment away but encourage it..., they are open
to world trade, they do not distort C.O.L rates to deceive citizens,
and they are even careful of language. This is why they grow faster,
are predictable and more reliable."
- "The wealthy countries' global debt"
Leading "Clarin" editorializes (06/15) "The G8 summit held in
Germany this year had more impact due to circumstances than to real
progress, which was certainly limited regarding its central issue,
climate change.
"The disagreement between the US and Germany resulted in a minor
commitment to lowering green gas house emissions. Western European
countries proposed a 50 per cent reduction by 2050, but the USG is
against assuming specific goals that will not include growing
countries and emerging powers like China and India.
"For the time being, wealthy countries are again in debt with
respect to expectations. They dishonored the Millennium Development
Objectives regarding cooperation on developing countries... The
focus of attention shifted from the social and climate agenda to the
strategic choice of building an antimissile shield, which
re-established arm-wrestling between the US and Russia."
- "The US - the visa system is reported to change only by the end of
the year"
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin,"
writes (06/15) "Argentines who are interested in traveling to the US
without a visa will have to be patient and not be disappointed if
they cannot do it in the short or medium term. As reported yesterday
by 'Clarin,' the legislation that could allow Argentina's entry into
the Visa Waiver Program has already been approved by the US Senate.
An assistant to Republican Senator George Voinovich told 'Clarin'
'It still has to be passed by the Lower House and some aspects of
the legislation will need to be reconciled in conference.' 'We think
that, if everything is OK, the legislation will be in force by the
end of the year.'
"Meanwhile, the Press Office of the US Embassy in Buenos Aires
issued a release highlighting that 'no change has been introduced to
the Visa Waiver Program yet, and Argentine citizens traveling to the
US still need a visa.'"
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
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