Cablegate: Media Reaction; Us Policy On Cuba; New Technologies;

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1462/01 2110951
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300951Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8768
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001462

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
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; US POLICY ON CUBA; NEW TECHNOLOGIES;
07/27/07

1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's most important international stories cover current and
future US policy on Cuba; and the agreement reached by US Senator
Nicholas Negroponte and Intel corporation to work together on the
One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project.

2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS

- "The missing conversation"

Hinde Pomeraniec, international columnist of leading "Clarin,"
opines (07/27) "A few days ago, OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel
Insulza recognized that the time has already come to sit to talk
with Cubans and said how 'absurd' the isolation policy is, something
US businessmen increasingly oppose based on the fact that the
embargo prevents them from doing profitable business.

"The self-criticism made by Raul Castro yesterday had already been
hinted by Fidel himself in an article he wrote while sick in bed.

"Political transition has already begun and economic transition
seems to be on its way. The many left wingers of the region foresee
the same need for partners not patrons. Cuba is not the exception
and for doing business there is nothing like sitting to talk in the
first place."

- "Nothing would change with a Democrat in power"

Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (07/27) "No one seems willing to
take the first step in the US-Cuban relationship.

"According to the US, Havana will have to produce more consistent
evidence of democratic opening, although Republicans and Democrats
do not yield in their defense of the embargo imposed on the island.

"At least in appearance, Democrats are considered as more
conciliating with Cuba than the Bush administration and the G.O.P.,
although doubts prevail whether the Castro brothers could do better
if the (Democratic) opposition takes power in 2009.

"This was made clear in last Tuesday's debate among Democratic
pre-candidates, which was organized by CNN and YouTube. The question
was 'Would you be wiling to meet, without any previous conditions,
during the first year of your government, with the leaders of Iran,
Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea to try to build a bridge over
the points of disagreement with them?'

"The answers showed that opening a dialogue will depend on multiple
variables and also on previous conditions.

"Senator Barack Obama, who runs second in opinion polls for the
nomination of his party, said that he was willing to negotiate -
'The notion that not talking to other countries is in a way a
punishment, which has been a basic principle of this administration,
is ridicule.'

"For her part, Senator Hillary Clinton explained that she would send
'many high-ranking delegates to test the waters,' but 'certainly, we
will not have our president meeting with Fidel Castro or Hugo Chavez
or the presidents of North Korea, Iran and Syria until we know
better in what way we could advance.'

"John Edward also conditioned a dialogue. He said that he would not
want to be used as a 'tool of propaganda' by Chavez or other
leaders."

- "Access to new technologies"

Leading "Clarin" editorializes (07/27) "New technologies have
radically changed access to information and the way multiple
practices are performed, such as the production of knowledge and
trade. Computers and Internet give possibilities that were
unthinkable in the past...

"... In this scenario, the announcement made by One Laptop Per Child
(OLPC)(in which Senator Nicholas Negroponte participates) that it is
ready to start manufacturing a low-cost mobile computer model to
bridge the technological gap is auspicious. Intel corp. has backed
this initiative. Argentine authorities backed the OLPC initiative
and we hope that it will soon allow students and teachers to access
technological breakthroughs."

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires

WAYNE

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