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INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A AGS: PREL, OVIP, EINV, PINR, AR
SUBJECT: More than Malbec: Ambassador Donates Scholarships and Talks Development in Mendoza Summary --------
1. Ambassador visited the Binational Center in Mendoza and presented certificates to 21 Mendoza high school students who
have received scholarships to study English as part of the Embassy's Sarmiento-Mann scholarship program. Ambassador then
met with influential Mendoza Governor Celso Jaque and received a thorough update on the Governor's broad-based approach
for improving public security in the province. Jaque described the results of his first six months in office, his
administration has made important strides in improving the work of the police, in fighting drugs, child labor and
trafficking in persons, and has developed a long-term, strategic, plan for bringing improved public security to the
province. Governor Jaque also detailed a series of progressive policy initiatives designed to improve education, promote
economic growth and bring an overall better quality-of-life to his constituents. End Summary. Sarmiento-Mann
Scholarships to Study English -------------------------------------------- 2. Following up on a successful visit to
President Sarmiento's birthplace in neighboring San Juan province, Ambassador Wayne visited the Asociacion Mendocina de
Intercambio Cultural Argentino Norteamericano (AMICANA), to present certificates to 21 local high school students who
are studying English at the binational center as part of the Embassy's Sarmiento-Mann scholarship program. The visit
afforded the Ambassador the opportunity to highlight the ECA/Embassy June 3 announcement of a 250,000 dollar investment
by the U.S. Department of State that will allow the Embassy to expand the Sarmiento-Mann Scholarship program and provide
scholarships for Argentine high school students throughout the country to study
English as a second language. After presenting the certificates,
Ambassador participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new
wing of classrooms at the AMICANA facility and met many of the
AMICANA students. The events received prominent press and TV
coverage. Governor Jaque's First Priority is Public Security3. Subsequently, Ambassador met with Mendoza Governor Celso
Jaque. The two have met on a number of occasions (Reftel) and in previous meetings Jaque has acknowledged problems with
law and order in Mendoza and stated that his first priority as Governor is improving public security. He began the
meeting by explaining his
administration's broad-based approach to public security.4. After only six months in office, Governor Jaque said his
administration has made great strides in improving the work of the local police, but added that this will be a long term
effort. They have invested in improved police training; have purchased police uniforms for both hot and cold weather,
and no longer require policeman to purchase their own uniforms; have purchased bullet-proof vests, new vehicles and
enough bullets to allow for target practice; and have re-established a 911 system for reporting emergencies. Governor
Jaque stated his police force is interested in any assistance the U.S. can provide, particularly in the area of
training. [Note: Embassy law enforcement agencies, led by DEA country office, maintain good relations with Mendoza law
enforcement officials and have provided training to Mendoza security forces and judicial sector. End Note.] 5. Jaque
explained that the provincial government has also taken a very active role in fighting drugs with a strong focus on
prevention and treatment. His administration has set up the first centers in the province that are working to help kids
get off drugs. They are creating programs to get kids into school, off street corners, and away from drugs. They are
also working to better coordinate the efforts of the provincial and federal police forces in going after drug
traffickers. 6. Jaque noted that the provincial government just signed an agreement with the national Ministry of
Justice, Security and Human Rights to build a new federal prison in Mendoza that will largely be available for high
security prisoners with provincial convictions. They also plan to build three more provincial jails in the next three
years. 7. Jaque said that his administration is also aggressively seeking to combat child labor and trafficking in
persons. His administration is taking an integrated approach to these related problems with the police, labor office and
family affairs office all cooperating in pursuing wrongdoers and providing support for victims. Mendoza would be happy
to receive any U.S. assistance or training on issues related to child labor or trafficking in persons. 8. Governor Jaque
emphasized that this multi-faceted approach to roviding public security is a long-term effort. He said he believes his
administration has already helped to reverse the trend of increasing lawlessness that existed prior to his inauguration,
even if he has not yet seen a major reduction in crime rates. He
stated that he believes little-by-little the province will see
improvements in public security and that this in turn presents
tremendous additional opportunities for the province. Jaque Views Public Security and Education as Key Steps to Promote
Economic Growth 9. Governor Jaque stated his belief that investment in education is both a way to attack crime and a way
to prepare the province for increased economic growth. He related his ideas for improving public education by investing
in the infrastructure of schools, particularly in rural schools, and explained plans for bringing
internet connectivity to substantially wider parts of the province.Travel to Atlanta and Washington -10. Governor Jaque
then detailed a progressive list of policy initiatives his administration is pursuing. He explained the importance of
lower middle-class citizens being able to afford homes and described a program the province has developed with several
banks for offering subsidized mortgages to lower middle-class citizens. He said he believes this program is especially
important }for teachers so that good teachers can continue teaching and be fixtures in the community. He spoke
expansively about various proposed projects including investments in infrastructure,
hydroelectric dams and a new gas pipeline. He stated substantial
investment continues in the wine industry and in the concentrated
frozen grape juice market. He presented several ideas his
government has for working with agricultural producers to increase
productivity, including ideas for protecting fruit trees from
damaging hail storms. He briefly described efforts to expand
activities in the mining and petroleum sectors. He said that
efforts to promote mining were hindered by a law passed last year by
the federal government and that expanding exploration for petroleum
was also complicated by the activities of the federal government.
He indicated that his administration has had discussions with the
federal government on these issues without elaborating. 10. Governor Jaque then described his ideas for promoting
economic
growth in Mendoza. He noted that he will be attending the Americas
Competitiveness Forum that Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez
will host in Atlanta in August. The trip is part of an overall plan
to focus on economic development in the province. He said he hopes
to meet with wide and divergent U.S. audiences both to promote
exports of products from Mendoza to the U.S. and to discuss
investment opportunities for American companies in Mendoza. He said he also plans to go to Washington during the trip to
meet with
representatives of the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. 11. Governor Jaque discussed the activities
of international trade offices that Mendoza has opened or plans to open soon in Atlanta (moving it from Miami), Sao
Paulo and London and spoke of possibly signing an accord with the Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta. Ambassador encouraged
Governor Jaque's administration to work with the Embassy, particularly the Foreign Commercial Service, to explore
mutually beneficial investment opportunities. Ambassador alluded to U.S. companies with an interest in possibly
investing in Argentina, but not having full knowledge of all the opportunities in Mendoza. Governor Jaque stated his
administration looks forward to sharing further information with the Embassy concerning Mendoza's overall lans to
attract foreign investment. At that point, he requested that Guillermo Migliozzi, provincial Minister of Production,
Technology and Innovation, join the meeting, introduced him to the Ambassador and advised that Minister Migliozzi is the
principal point of contact in his administration for international investment issues. Promoting Ties to U.S. States 12.
Governor Jaque lamented the lack of ties between Mendoza and states and cities in the U.S. He said he is eager to
promote cultural exchanges between Mendoza and representatives of state and local governments in the U.S. and is keen on
developing a sister-city relationship with a U.S. city. He mentioned possibly having a sister-city relationship in the
future with an unnamed city near Atlanta where many Argentine ex-pats are residing. Ambassador voiced enthusiasm for
this type of cultural exchange and urged Governor Jaque to speak to Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana about a
program for promoting ties between the Argentine provinces nd U.S. states. 13. Commentand bio note: Governor Jaque
appears to be an energetic, committed, public official who genuinely cares about improving the lives of his
constituents. Heis eager to promote closer ties and cooperation with the U.S. Heis focused on seeking solutions to
problems and not on political ideology, and appears to view working with U.S. interests as a way to help improve the
quality of life of the people in the province. His high-school age daughter will be studying for a year in upstate New
York starting in August 2008, and he and his wife will be hosting a high-school student from the U.S. in their home for
the year. This cultural exchange should only increase his familiarity and comfort with the U.S. He is a member of the
Partido Justicialista (Peronist
Party)and was elected in October 2007 with the active support of
the Kirchners. Since that time he has been trying to balance
between supporting GOA policies while also pursuing independent
policies that willimprove the lives of the people in Mendoza. The
Embassy should be able to maintain an excellent workingrelationship
with Mendoza provincial authorities while Jaque is in office. End
Comment. Kelly