VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBU #2266/01 3330747
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290747Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9791
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002266
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; ANNAPOLIS PEACE CONFERENCE; BURMA; UPCOMING
VISIT OF CARL MEACHAM AND SHAWN SULLIVAN TO BUENOS AIRES; 11/28/07
1. SUMMARY STATEMENT
Leading international stories today include the outcome of the
Middle East peace conference held in Annapolis; Burma and the oil
dispute between Beijing and Washington; and the upcoming visit of US
experts on Latin American issues.
2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS
- "For the sake of the Middle East peace"
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (11/28) "After seven years of
stagnation, the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian National
Authority committed yesterday to resuming talks and reaching a
definitive peace deal before the end of next year. They did so when
inaugurating the US-sponsored Middle East international
conference...
"Even though the tentative agreement reached may not be more than a
first step towards Israelis and Palestinians coming to terms, it is
one of the most important steps in the arduous road to Middle East
peace.
"... The agreement, which only focused on general aspects and did
not delve into conflictive issues like the future of refugees or the
status of Jerusalem, established a schedule aimed at concluding
negotiations before the end of US President George W. Bush's term in
office, who promoted the summit.
"While the communiqu was far from the five-page document expected
by the Palestinians, the organization of the international
conference alone is an achievement for the Bush administration."
- "Israelis and Palestinians promise to attempt a peace deal by
2008"
Ana Baron, leading "Clarin's" Washington-based correspondent,
comments (11/28) "Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader
Mahmoud Abbas committed to resuming stalled peace negotiations aimed
at creating an independent Palestinian State before the end of 2008.
For his part, President George W. Bush promised that he would remain
involved in facilitating talks and he announced that the US would be
the only judge and mediator in negotiations...
"Nonetheless, nothing of what was said during the conference was
enough to dispel doubts and prevailing skepticism over what may
happen from now on.
"While the joint statement read by Bush at the beginning of the
conference is a step forward, it does not mention any of the thorny
issues to be taken on by working groups, such as the future of
Jerusalem, the luck of Palestinian refugees and political prisoners,
the return of Israeli settlements in territories that allegedly
belong to the Palestinians, and it does not guarantee either the
required political power to move forward towards a deal.
"The strength with which Bush, Abbas and Olmert clasped hands in
front of TV cameras yesterday in Annapolis is the other side of the
weakness they suffer in their respective countries."
- "A group of US envoys arrives in the region"
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (11/28) "The transition
between Nestor Kirchner and his wife, Cristina Fernandez de
Kirchner, is not over yet, and some US envoys started to pack in
order to travel to Buenos Aires. They want to assess how much the
direction of the country could change under the Cristina
administration.
"Carl Meacham, the highest-ranking Republican expert on Latin
America, is one of the travelers. He told 'La Nacion' that the
question is whether there will be any difference from the current
administration.'
"Meacham will travel with Shawn Sullivan, director for Latin America
at the International Republican Institute...
"Meacham and Sullivan want to 'evaluate the local situation,'
particularly in terms of security, energy and infrastructure.
"... Meacham added: 'There is much to do in the bilateral
relationship, particularly regarding security, just like the TBA
situation. We share concerns over Iran and Argentina's ties to
Venezuela."
- "Oil dispute between Beijing and Washington feeds Burma's military
dictatorship"
Maximiliano Sbarbi Osuna, international analyst, writes for
business-financial "BAE" (11/28) "Reports from Burma frequently
explain that both the EU and the US condemn the ferocious de facto
regime that is economically and militarily supported by China. While
this statement may be true, the conflict in this South East Asian
country is much broader and is related to the regional rivalry
between Washington and Beijing, and this is the reason why Western
oil corporations are a fundamental part of the problem.
"... The question we should pose is why the West is trying to
condemn the regime if it benefits from the Burma government. The
answer to this is easy - a change of government could represent
greater income for major oil corporations operating in the country
and it would also reinforce Washington's alliance with India,
thereby reducing Chinese influence in the region.
"However, Beijing considers Burma a highly important ally because 80
percent of the oil it receives from the Middle East comes from
Burma...
"... The Western interest in Burma can be explained by the
increasing ties between the US and India. Last year, Washington and
New Delhi signed an important nuclear deal aimed at India balancing
the region against China, the other Asian giant."
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
WAYNE