

Currently released so far... 12453 / 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
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 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
ASEC
AORC
AMGT
APER
AU
AF
AS
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
AFIN
AR
AE
AJ
ADANA
AEMR
AG
ATRN
ADPM
APECO
AGAO
AMED
AX
AM
AL
ADCO
AA
AECL
AADP
ABUD
AMEX
ACAO
ANET
AODE
ASCH
AY
APEC
AID
AORG
ASEAN
AFSI
AFSN
AINF
AGR
AROC
AO
AMBASSADOR
AFFAIRS
ASIG
ABLD
ASUP
AND
ARM
ARF
AQ
ATFN
AC
ACOA
AORL
ADM
AUC
AGMT
ACABQ
ASEX
AFU
ALOW
AZ
APCS
AVERY
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AER
AN
AIT
AMG
AGRICULTURE
AMCHAMS
ACS
BR
BA
BD
BL
BO
BF
BU
BILAT
BEXP
BRUSSELS
BK
BN
BM
BT
BY
BX
BTIO
BIDEN
BG
BE
BP
BBSR
BC
BTIU
BWC
BB
BH
BMGT
CH
CY
CA
CU
CS
CO
CVIS
CPAS
CMGT
CE
COUNTER
CASC
COUNTRY
CJAN
COUNTERTERRORISM
CG
CI
CD
CIDA
CJUS
CDG
CBSA
CEUDA
CR
CM
CLMT
CAC
CBW
CODEL
COPUOS
CWC
CIC
CW
CBE
CHR
CFED
CT
CONS
CIA
CTM
CDC
CVR
CF
CLINTON
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CACS
CAN
CONDOLEEZZA
CB
CSW
CITT
CARSON
CNARC
CACM
CDB
CARICOM
COM
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CV
CKGR
CBC
CL
CICTE
CIS
ECON
EFIN
ELAB
ETRD
EIND
EC
EINV
EAGR
ENRG
ETTC
EAID
EPET
ELTN
EWWT
EAIR
EFIS
EMIN
EG
EU
ER
EUN
EPA
ENVI
EXTERNAL
ECPS
ENGR
ETRC
ECIN
EN
EI
ELN
ET
EINT
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ES
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EZ
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EFTA
EAIG
EK
EUREM
EURN
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EAP
ENIV
ECONOMY
ESA
EINN
ECONOMIC
EIAR
EXBS
ECA
ECUN
EINDETRD
EUR
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
ENERG
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFIM
ENGY
EAIDS
EINVEFIN
EINVETC
EUMEM
ETRA
ETC
ERNG
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EXIM
ERD
EEPET
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IO
IAHRC
ID
IC
IT
IRAQI
IWC
IN
IL
ISLAMISTS
IV
ICAO
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IPR
ICRC
INTERPOL
IQ
IBET
IMO
INR
ITRA
INTERNAL
ICJ
ICTY
IRS
ILO
INRA
INRO
ISRAELI
IEA
INRB
ITALY
ITU
IBRD
IIP
ILC
INTELSAT
IZPREL
IMF
INMARSAT
IRAJ
IDA
ICTR
IA
IGAD
IF
IDP
ITF
ISRAEL
IEFIN
IRC
IACI
KN
KCRM
KOMC
KNNPMNUC
KIPR
KPAL
KWBG
KSCA
KFRD
KNNP
KUNR
KTIP
KWMN
KSTC
KFLU
KOLY
KISL
KPAO
KMDR
KJUS
KSTH
KDEM
KCOR
KIRF
KAWC
KU
KTFN
KWAC
KNPP
KERG
KSEO
KACT
KHLS
KZ
KGHG
KTIA
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KE
KPKO
KCIP
KDRG
KVPR
KV
KIDE
KICC
KPRP
KBIO
KSUM
KGIT
KCFE
KG
KBTS
KFLO
KMPI
KS
KGIC
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KSEP
KTEX
KFSC
KOCI
KHDP
KPLS
KTDB
KHIV
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KMRS
KOM
KSAF
KRVC
KR
KMOC
KNAR
KIRC
KBCT
KSPR
KFIN
KBTR
KJUST
KNEI
KAWK
KGCC
KMCA
KREL
KMFO
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVRP
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KAID
KVIR
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KRAD
KPRV
KCMR
KPWR
KCHG
KIFR
KCFC
KICA
KPIN
KSCI
KESS
KDEV
KTBT
KCRS
KCGC
KOMS
KRIM
KTER
KREC
KPOA
KWWMN
KRGY
KPAK
KWNM
KMIG
KDDG
KRFD
KWMM
KWMNCS
KX
KRCM
KPAONZ
KNUC
KDEMAF
KNUP
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MCAP
MTCRE
MNUC
MIL
MX
MEDIA
MO
MPOS
MU
ML
MA
MP
MY
MERCOSUR
MG
MD
MW
MK
MAS
MEETINGS
MR
MT
MI
MOPPS
MASC
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MTRE
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
MARAD
MASSMNUC
MEPP
MCC
MZ
MILITARY
MDC
MRCRE
MC
MV
MIK
MUCN
NATO
NL
NZ
NPT
NI
NAFTA
NU
NDP
NIPP
NP
NPA
NG
NRR
NO
NSC
NEW
NE
NH
NR
NA
NS
NSF
NZUS
NATIONAL
NSG
NC
NT
NAR
NK
NGO
NV
NSFO
NSSP
NASA
NW
NPG
NORAD
NATOPREL
OTRA
OAS
OPRC
OIIP
OVIP
OREP
OPDC
OEXC
OSCE
OFFICIALS
OMIG
ODIP
OFDP
OECD
OPIC
OBSP
OPCW
OFDA
OTR
OSAC
OSCI
ON
OCII
OES
OVP
OIC
OPAD
OIE
OHUM
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PK
PHUM
PINS
PARM
PA
PTER
PINR
PREF
PHSA
PBTS
PBIO
PO
POL
PE
PARMS
PM
PROG
PL
PAK
POLITICS
PORG
PTBS
PNAT
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PROP
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PAO
PG
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PALESTINIAN
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PSEPC
PREFA
PGOVE
PINF
PHUMPGOV
PNG
PMIL
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
PLN
PSA
PGIV
POLINT
PAS
POGOV
PHUMPREL
PHUMBA
PEL
PGGV
PNR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PRAM
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PF
POV
PROV
PRL
PREO
PAHO
PHUH
PSI
PINL
PU
PRGOV
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
RS
RU
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RO
RW
RCMP
RF
RM
RFE
RSP
RP
RICE
ROBERT
ROOD
RELATIONS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RSO
SU
SNAR
SO
SOCI
SW
SENV
SMIG
SCUL
SP
SZ
SENVKGHG
SR
SY
SA
SYRIA
SF
SI
SC
SWE
SARS
STEINBERG
SN
SG
SIPRS
ST
SEVN
SL
SPCE
SNARIZ
SSA
SNARCS
SYR
SK
SPCVIS
SHUM
SIPDIS
SHI
SH
SOFA
SEN
SNARN
SAARC
SAN
SANC
SCRS
TRGY
TBIO
TU
TF
TERRORISM
TI
TSPL
TPHY
TH
TIP
TSPA
TC
TO
TW
TX
TZ
TNGD
TT
TL
TV
TFIN
TS
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TD
TK
TR
THPY
TP
TAGS
UNGA
UN
UK
US
UNC
UNSC
USUN
UG
UP
UY
USEU
UNESCO
USPS
USTR
UZ
UNHRC
UNO
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNHCR
UNCHR
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
USOAS
UNFICYP
UV
UNEP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDC
UNCHC
UNDP
UNCND
USNC
UNPUOS
UNICEF
UNCSD
UE
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 14:02 | 2011-03-13 07:07 | 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