

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09BUENOSAIRES461, ARGENTINA: MEDIA PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09BUENOSAIRES461.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09BUENOSAIRES461 | 2009-04-21 14:20 | 2011-03-13 07:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Buenos Aires |
Appears in these articles: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1356989-la-presidenta-queria-una-relacion-mas-estrecha-con-estados-unidos |
VZCZCXRO5174
RR RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT RUEHNG
RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHBU #0461/01 1111420
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 211420Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3579
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BUENOS AIRES 000461
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: PREL KSUM EFIN ENRG ECON PGOV CU AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: MEDIA PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
SUMMIT PARTICIPATION; CFK SATISFIED WITH OUTCOME
REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 150
¶B. 08 BUENOS AIRES 1407
¶C. 08 BUENOS AIRES 1703
Classified By: CDA Tom Kelly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Summary: Argentine press reacted extremely favorably
to President Obama's participation in the Fifth Summit of the
Americas (SOA), describing the meetings as a new, positive
beginning for U.S.-Latin American relations. In a press
conference following the April 18 meeting between President
Obama and UNASUR heads-of-state, President Fernandez de
Kirchner (CFK) praised President Obama for listening and for
his sincerity, though she added that the U.S. would need to
take additional conciliatory actions to address lingering
Latin American distrust of the United States. Local press
drew attention to the fact that CFK did not have a bilateral
with President Obama and that Argentina was absent from most
official and even leaked descriptions of U.S. priorities or
plans for the region. Nonetheless, the media seemed to give
CFK a passing grade for her perceived performance. Her
opening remarks at the Summit were described as ""balanced""
despite the familiar jabs at the United States, and her call
for the U.S. to lift its embargo on Cuba resonated well. For
CFK's part, we hear that she was ""delighted"" with the Summit
and her interaction with President Obama, though she was
reportedly annoyed by negative media stories here that sought
to make an issue of the lack of a bilateral with him.
¶2. (U) Although photos of President Chavez's moments with
President Obama were run in virtually all papers, the
Venezuela-U.S. theme did not dominate local coverage.
Reporting on substance focused on Argentina's effort to
attract World Bank and IDB financing, on the lack of
agreement over the Summit communique, on Cuba policy, and to
a lesser extent on public security. Environment and energy
issues received relatively little attention. End Summary.
President Obama, Cuba Dominate Local Press
------------------------------------------
¶3. (U) Argentine press reporting on the Fifth Summit of
Americas was focused on two main themes: first, President
Obama's first extensive and positively received interaction
with Latin American leaders and second, the question of U.S.
Cuba policy (and Cuban participation in the OAS). The two
themes were intertwined, as the President's announcements on
dialogue with Cuba and on travel policy changes were
portrayed as key examples of a more balanced and
consensus-based approach to the Hemisphere by the United
States. The press duly noted the calls by President Obama
and Secretary Clinton for Cuba to release its political
prisoners, embrace democratic reforms, and observe human
rights.
¶4. (SBU) Pro-government daily ""Pagina 12"" got the ball
rolling with a large front page ""I (Heart) B O"" featuring the
President's face in the heart. The paper's coverage noted
the positive reaction of South American heads-of-state to
President Obama at the U.S.-UNASUR meeting and led with the
headline: ""This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.""
¶5. (U) Ana Baron, U.S. correspondent for largest circulation
daily ""Clarin,"" provided a glowing description of Latin
American reactions to President Obama's humility and
openness. She cautioned that President Obama's focus on
listening aside, it appeared the USG still intended to follow
its own course toward Cuba via a policy of gradualism and
calling for reforms on the island rather than acceding to the
consensus view of other leaders for a quick lifting of the
embargo. Indeed, statements by President Obama and WH
Spokesman Gibbs that the ball was in Cuba's court received
fair coverage on April 19, eliciting only mild implicit
criticism in left-leaning Pagina 12. Following the
U.S.-UNASUR meeting, Baron noted that all of the South
American heads of state appeared anxious to have an exchange
or a photo taken with President Obama.
CFK: Balanced, to a Point
-------------------------
¶6. (SBU) Media coverage of President Cristina Fernandez de
Kirchner's (CFK) opening speech at the SOA on April 17 was
light compared to the attention given to President Obama.
Local press described her remarks as balanced, with her
critiques of U.S. Cuba policy ""balanced"" by her recognition
that President Obama was new in office and had taken steps to
""lift the absurd restrictions"" placed by President Bush on
Cuba in 2004. She urged the U.S. to lift its ""blockade""
(sic) of Cuba. Somewhat discordantly, she contrasted U.S.
BUENOS AIR 00000461 002 OF 004
insistence on expelling Cuba from the OAS in 1962 due to
Soviet involvement on the island with the United States'
""failure to comply"" with its Rio Pact obligations of mutual
assistance toward Argentina when Argentina was ""attacked
(sic) by Great Britain in 1982."" She called on the creation
of a new regional order based on ""coordination, not
subordination, and integration, not interference"" to replace
what had been a ""traumatic relationship"" between the U.S. and
the region. FM Jorge Taiana echoed these comments when he
told reporters that ""the SOA demonstrated the hemisphere is
in a new phase based on the recognition of the importance of
dialogue, of respect, of the principle of non-intervention
and cooperation.""
¶7. (SBU) CFK said her criticisms were not a ""reproach"" to
President Obama. ""He was not responsible for the Washington
Consensus nor that bipolar (Cold War) world. Indeed, he,
too, may have had his civil, economic and political rights
trampled due to the color of his skin."" She also claimed
that the 2005 SOA in Mar del Plata had been a ""turning point""
in hemispheric relations because ""different countries of our
Americas, with different historical experiences and different
ideas said no to the Free Trade Area of the Americas."" In
the wake of that rebellion, Latin America left behind ""the
uncriticizing subordination to any (U.S.) proposal."" CFK
lamented that developing nations were unfairly being forced
to pay the consequences of a global crisis they did not
create.
¶8. (SBU) Following the U.S.-UNASUR meeting, CFK praised
Obama's participation, noting that it was a ""democratic""
meeting at which all spoke and that President Obama was
sincere in answering every head-of-state in turn. Slipping
into critical mode, she said that ""we all suggested that an
improved U.S.-Latin American relationship would require a
different attitude and commitment to non-interference by the
United States in the internal affairs of the other states.
This hasn't been the case for 30 years."" She alleged U.S.
quiescence over an ""institutional coup"" attempt against
President Evo Morales in 2008. Of the 2002 coup attempt
against President Chavez, moreover, she added that the ""only
government in the world which supported this endeavor was the
United States,"" in turn praising President Chavez for
dialoguing with President Obama despite this history.
CFK's Economic Agenda at the Summit
-----------------------------------
¶9. (SBU) With no bilateral meetings scheduled at the Summit,
CFK focused her attention on firming up multilateral
development bank (MDB) credits that have been in the works
for some time. Local media reports on CFK's public remarks
that ""we need the IDB to be recapitalized and provided with
more funds. Obama told us that he will study the
recapitalization (request). I believe that the study should
be short and the decision needs to be made quickly."" The
President met for 10 minutes with IDB President Luis Albert
Moreno on a US$ 1.5 ) 1.8 billion loan package to support
GOA ""social infrastructure and labor programs."" (Note: Ref B
reported on Moreno's October 2008 conversation with
Ambassador on growing GOA interest in expanded IDB credits in
the face of global credit crunch. The IDB was then working
with the Ministries of Social Development and Labor to
develop a $1.6 billion two-year program to revamp the
nation's social safety net programs. End Note.) Local media
also reported on CFK's meeting with World Bank Latin American
Director Pamela Cox to discuss a pending US$ 700 million
credit to fund the Riachuelo cleanup program. (Ref C for
details).
Brazil Encourages Support for Argentina
---------------------------------------
¶10. (SBU) An interesting economic subtext to the Summit were
overt efforts by Brazil's President Lula and his cabinet to
encourage IMF support for Argentina. (Comment: Argentina is
broadly considered ineligible for new IMF financial crisis
credit lines due to the unreliability of its statistics and
default status on some official and private debt. WH
Economic Advisor Summers' suggestion, quoted in Clarin, that
countries would not qualify unless they had sound economic
policies in place was read as meaning Argentina would in fact
not qualify. End Comment.) In an April 16 interview with
""La Nacion"" that was published on Sunday, April 19, Lula
remarked: ""We don't think there should be an IMF delegation
coming to check Argentina, Brazil, or Venezuela's accounts...
We don't want that any more. We don't want missions... We
don't want them to come and tell us we have to make fiscal
adjustments. That's for the authority and sovereignty of
each country to decide.""
BUENOS AIR 00000461 003 OF 004
¶11. (SBU) An April 20 article in ""Clarin"" reported that Lula
called the reporter's attention to this earlier interview,
noting ""We gave Cristina a hand, right?"" That same ""Clarin""
article quoted GOB sources on a meeting between National
Security Advisor James Jones, GOB Defense Minister Nelson
Jobim and Lula's foreign affairs advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia
in which the GOB told Jones that Argentina is key to regional
security and integration and that the region needs a strong
GOA and a strong Argentina. The article interpreted these
comments as a GOB request that the USG give Argentina
political and financial support.
Where Does Argentina Fit In?
----------------------------
¶12. (SBU) Despite Brazil's best efforts, the negative story
for the GOA out of the Summit was the repeated assertion or
implication that Argentina was not of great importance to the
USG's Latin American policy. Clarin's Baron quoted an
unnamed White House source saying that President Obama had
been interested only in five one-on-one conversations at the
SOA -- with the Presidents of Colombia, Peru, Haiti and Chile
and the Prime Minister of Canada.
¶13. (SBU) ""La Nacion"" on 19 April reported that the White
House had said Colombia would be the next country in Latin
America visited by the President. It also noted White House
confirmation that President Obama had developed an ""extensive
and very good dialogue"" with Brazilian President Lula. The
paper noted that Argentina had not been raised among possible
travel destinations and that there was no evidence of any
significant dialogue between CFK and President Obama at the
Summit. Other press had noted that Argentina was not among
the countries mentioned by President Obama in his remarks
either by name or by its capital. ""La Nacion"" also noted
that CFK did not meet with Labor Secretary Solis, as had
other heads-of-state and that her ""only"" bilateral with the
U.S. was with ""seven Members of Congress"" (i.e., Codel Engel).
Venezuela: An Interesting Sidebar
---------------------------------
¶14. (SBU) Although the photos of Presidents Chavez and Obama
shaking hands or of Chavez presenting the President with a
book were run in all media, the lack of U.S.-Venezuela
theatrics made this a one-and-out story. Clarin ran an
interview with Chavez on April 19 in which Chavez described
how important he viewed the book he had presented to
President Obama, Eduardo Galleano's ""The Open Veins of Latin
America."" He confirmed his interest in ""becoming friends""
with President Obama and in an improvement in Venezuelan-U.S.
relations. He said that he could not imagine another Summit
without Cuba's participation and referred positively to
""Cristina's"" (CFK's) admonition that the Hemisphere not miss
a ""second opportunity"" to reestablish the inter-American
system with Cuba included, without conditions.
CFK's Take on the Summit
------------------------
¶15. (C) After debriefing his boss on his return to the MFA
April 20, Foreign Minister Chief of Staff Alberto D'Alotto
reported that CFK and Taiana were ""delighted"" with the
Summit. They both were highly impressed with President
Obama's charisma, noting that he communicated humility and
leadership simultaneously. In the view of Argentina's
leaders, the new U.S. administration got off to a very good
start in a new relationship with Latin America at the Summit.
D'Alotto said that Taiana ranted about Argentine press
reports that President Obama ignored CFK or treated her
coolly. In fact, in Taiana's account, President Obama
eagerly sought CFK out, walking across a crowded hallway to
engage her. CFK, according to this version (documented by a
press photo showing CFK and her aide Carlos Zanini beaming in
his presence) had her share of face time with the POTUS.
Comment: Less Mileage from Anti-Americanism
-------------------------------------------
¶16. (C) Although CFK stuck to some of her familiar themes in
criticizing the U.S. record in Latin America, she appeared
sincere in her suggestion that, from Argentina's perspective,
a new beginning was possible under the Obama Administration.
Memories of Kirchner and Chavez-led anti-American theatrics
in 2005 at Mar del Plata were dispelled, at least for the
local audience, with the upbeat photos of CFK with President
Obama. With less political space for profitable
anti-American posturing and little to show in terms of a
positive foreign policy agenda, the CFK Administration finds
BUENOS AIR 00000461 004 OF 004
itself without much to build on for domestic political
consumption from the Summit. At a minimum, though, CFK did
not make any noteworthy misstep at Port of Spain.
WAYNE