Cablegate: Media Reaction; Argentine-Brazilian Ties; 11/20/07

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2243/01 3241911
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201911Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9748
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002243

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; ARGENTINE-BRAZILIAN TIES; 11/20/07

1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

The major international story today is the outcome of the meeting
between Argentine President-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and
Brazilian President Lula da Silva and their purpose of stepping up
cooperation in oil and gas exploration between the two countries.

2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS

- "Lula and Cristina Kirchner reinforce integration"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion," front-pages a story by Lucas Colonna,
on special assignment to Brasilia, who comments (11/20) "Cristina
Kirchner's short visit to Brasilia served the governments of the two
countries to make a clear wink that they intend to strengthen the
(Argentine-Brazilian) bilateral ties.

"After a 50-minute meeting, the (Argentine) President-elect
announced they agreed to create an Argentine-Brazilian committee for
cooperation... The new thing of the agenda is a topic that could
become controversial - the choice to move forward on nuclear
cooperation, about which no specifics were given.

"... The nuclear issue is not a minor one for the agenda of the
region. Nuclear development is a topic of concern for Brazil. Being
the world's 10th economic power, Brazil considers nuclear
cooperation a priority even as part of its defense strategic
plan...

"... Nelson Cervero, Petrobras international director, explained
that the two leaders are determined to obtain concrete achievements
as far as integration is concerned. This is why... the bi-national
committee will work by issues not ministries. Energy cooperation
appears as one of the central points of the bilateral relationship
Lula and Cristina started to delineate in their meeting.

"The point that will surely raise more expectation (and controversy)
is their nuclear cooperation purpose."

- "Cristina Fernandez confirms an alliance with Brazil that
overlooks Hugo Chavez"

Valentina Alvarez, on special assignment in Brasilia for
business-financial "El Cronista," writes (11/20) "Argentine
President-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's trip to Brazil
ended with just a few concrete announcements and determined support
for Mercosur...

"After her private meeting with President Lula da Silva..., she
asserted that 'we have decided to reinforce Mercosur bearing in mind
that the world will interact in blocs'... She termed their meeting
as 'very fruitful.' Cristina also announced that during her term in
office, a bi-national committee will meet every six months with the
purpose of 'reviewing the two countries' issues.'

"... Following her meeting with Lula, the President-elect avoided
talking about specific issues, although she was warm when labeling
Brazil as 'a brother country.' She also said that during her term in
office the issues of interest for the two countries will be analyzed
'by subject and not by ministry' and that 'we have to create the
awareness in the societies of the two countries that the integration
process is moving forward with concrete and measurable results that
can be exhibited to the society.'

"In addition to the political gestures, two economic announcements
were made after the short summit held in Brasilia... The most
important was the construction of a joint hydroelectric plant in
Garabi...

"... A high-ranking source from the Argentine Executive branch that
could stay in government under the Cristina administration also said
that Petrobras and Enarsa (the Argentine state energy corporation)
are working on the joint oil exploration in Argentine deep waters,
which was indirectly confirmed by Lula.

"... According to Marco Aurelio Garcia, the Brazilian presidential
consultant on international issues, Cristina and Lula did not tackle
specific political issues related to Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez..."

- "The President-elect makes a wink"

Daniel Juri, political columnist of leading "Clarin," comments
(11/20) "This is the issue that makes a difference. Against the
feeling of continuity given by Cristina's new Cabinet, the
international scenario is where Cristina distances herself from her
husband.
"On international issues, the President-elect has already
prioritized the Southern Cone in principle (she was in Chile, now
Brazil, and in the near future she will go to Uruguay). Within the
Southern Cone, she has prioritized Lula rather than Hugo Chavez, an
old ally of Kirchner.

"This is a wink because we all know that when it comes down to
foreign policy issues, there are no math formulae. In this case, the
order of any number of factors does matter."

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

WAYNE

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