Cablegate: Ambassador Wayne to Argentina; Us Legislative Elections;

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2513/01 3121958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081958Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6422
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002513

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 MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WAYNE TO ARGENTINA; US LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS;
NICARAGUAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS; US-MEXICAN BORDER FENCE;
11/07/06

1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

All major papers report on the arrival of US Ambassador to
Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, and his presentation of credentials
to Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana. Other international
stories include today's US legislative elections; the outcome of
Nicaraguan presidential elections; and the US-Mexican border fence.

2. OPINION PIECES

- "Gestures from the new US Ambassador"

Oliver Galak, political columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacion,"
writes (11/07) "With the typical signs of good will of every
inauguration, the 28th US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony
Wayne, took office yesterday in a meeting with FM Jorge Taiana.

"At the end of the meeting, Wayne labeled his conversation with
Taiana as 'good,' and he pointed out that 'the US greatly values its
ties with Argentina'...

"... One of Ambassador Wayne's priorities in Buenos Aires will be
taking care of US investment - nearly 25 percent of foreign
investment in the country...

"But the common agenda also includes other issues, like the struggle
against terrorism, human rights policy, the situation in Haiti, and
the relationship with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

"... In Argentine diplomatic circles, Wayne's arrival was taken as
good news...

"A long-time Argentine diplomat said: '(Wayne) is a heavyweight. He
has direct channels of communication with (Secretary of State)
Condoleezza Rice. If we have a good cause and we convince him, he is
the adequate channel.'

"A foreign ambassador who met Wayne while he served in the US was
even more eloquent: 'Wayne has more influence in Washington than,
for instance, Lino Gutierrez. Whatever he says will be respected
there.'"

- "New US Ambassador arrives with promises to improve the
(bilateral) relationship"

Leading "Clarin" reports (11/07) "Committed to increasing bilateral
cooperation, the new US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne,
presented his credentials to FM Jorge Taiana.

"... Wayne will face the challenge of improving ties between
Kirchner and his US counterpart, George W. Bush, who is resentful
after the Mar del Plata Summit of the Americas, in which the US was
not able to win support for the FTAA.

"... The US diplomat said yesterday that he will put 'all his effort
into strengthening ties' between the two countries."

- "Wayne takes office as US Ambassador"

Business-financial, center-right "Infobae" (11/07) "After a meeting
with FM Taiana, the new US Ambassador to Argentina Earl Anthony
Wayne said that 'the US greatly values its bilateral relationship
with Argentina.'

"Wayne's inauguration raises big expectations due to the particular
situation in the region and the bilateral issues pending between the
two countries, such as increasing US investment in the country.

"... However, the US diplomat acknowledged that the US and Argentine
governments have 'points of disagreement' on some issues, which he
considered 'normal between friends and neighbors.' He added 'the
question is how to better channel those points of disagreement and
how to face them to mutual benefit.'"

- "Taiana receives the new US Ambassador"

Business-financial "El Cronista" reports (11/07) "The new US
Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, asserted that the (US)
ties with the country are 'very positive and productive,' and that
the White House 'highly values' its relationship with Argentina.

"When presenting credentials to FM Jorge Taiana, Wayne underscored:
'We have a broad agenda of issues, and I will certainly do
everything I can to increase the good communication and cooperation
that we currently enjoy.'

"... Argentina is concerned about what will happen with the GSP at
the end of the year."

- "The new American friend"

Left-of-center "Pagina 12" reports (11/07) "Even though the tone of
the meeting was marked by protocol, after presenting credentials to
FM Jorge Taiana, the new US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony
Wayne, pointed out that they held 'a good conversation about the
bilateral relationship,' and he even asserted that 'it is in the
interest of the two countries to broaden our channels of
communication and deepen the understanding between the two
nations.'

"Yesterday, the brand-new Ambassador announced that it will be
important for him to meet 'with Argentines from all circles and
listen to their points of view.'"

- "US Ambassador presents credentials"

Conservative "La Prensa" reports (11/07) "The new US Ambassador Earl
Anthony Wayne took office yesterday after meeting with FM Jorge
Taiana...

"... In his swearing in ceremony last November 2, Wayne had
emphasized that the US and Argentina have a 'strong commitment to
democratic values, human rights and defense.'

"He added that 'Argentina and the US have had good cooperation at
the UN in seeking peace, non proliferation and fighting crime,
terrorism and narco-trafficking.'

"Wayne recalled that 'there are almost 400 US corporations operating
in Argentina,' which 'make our economic ties substantial' and have
been kept 'through good and bad times.'"

- "US ambassador presents his credentials"

Liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald" reports (11/07) "The
new US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, yesterday
presented his credentials to FM Jorge Taiana. According to Embassy
sources, Wayne also had his first day of work at his new office in
the neighborhood of Palermo. Wayne, whose last position was
Assistant Secretary of State for Commercial Affairs and has previous
experience in diplomacy, replaces Lino Gutierrez as the
representative of George W. Bush in Buenos Aires."

- "New US Ambassador"

Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (11/07) "...
Ambassador Wayne's nomination raises big expectations due to the
special current situation of the region and the issues pending in
the bilateral relations, such as the lack of interest of US
corporations to invest in the country and the Bush administration's
imminent decision to withdraw Argentina from the GSP, for which the
country could lose exports to the US for up to 600 million
dollars."

- "Americans will vote today in a crucial election test for Bush"

Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin,"
comments (11/07) "... According to latest opinion surveys, the Bush
administration will suffer its first political defeat, Democrats
will win the Lower House and the gubernatorial races, and there will
be a tie in US Senate. The final outcome will be known today...

"The electoral campaign made one thing quite clear. Voters will vote
bearing one issue in minds - Iraq. And this alone is an achievement
for the Democrats.

"... Chuck Todd, a well-known political analyst in Washington,
agrees with other analysts that Democrats managed to turn these
lections into a referendum on Bush's policy on Iraq."

- "From a rifle to pacifism and market economy"

Pilar Conci, on special assignment in Managua for daily-of-record
"La Nacion," writes (11/07) "He is perseverant, no one can deny
this. His obsession was returning to power and, no matter how many
defeats he endured on the way, he had made it this time.

"... While now he says that he will respect private corporations,
boost foreign investment and seek good ties with the US, his
proximity to Hugo Chavez worries Washington, which does not trust in
his conversion.

"However, what has obviously changed is Ortega's banking account
balance. Once a revolutionary, he has now become a wealthy
businessman... "

- "US cautious and concerned about the outcome of (Nicaraguan)
elections"

Leonardo Mindez, on special assignment in Washington for leading
"Clarin," writes (11/07) "After having strongly bet against Daniel
Ortega's candidacy, caution prevailed in Washington officials'
comments on Nicaraguan elections.

"The main US fear is that the Sandinist leader will turn into an
anti-US leader in Central America, a region that has been very close
to the White House in recent years.

"... Many in Washington do not trust the old enemy of the Cold War.
US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez had already warned before
the elections that a victory by Ortega could scare away US
investment amounting to 270 million dollars and could jeopardize the
continuity of CAFTA. Republican legislators even asked that the US
suspend its financial aid for Nicaragua if Ortega won elections."

- "A light version"

Paula Lugones, columnist of leading "Clarin," writes (11/07) "Will
Daniel Ortega be a new member of the 'axis of evil,' the list of US
enemies? It is hard to tell. The victory of the former commander
worries Washington, but it could well be a gut-driven reaction to
the word 'Sandinismo.' It is true that Hugo Chavez is smiling from
Venezuela and that the White House is monitoring possible capital
flight from Nicaragua in fear of some kind of expropriation wave
similar to that of his first term in office. Ortega could well
maintain his anti-imperialist stance but his ideological and
personal transformation brings a new light, 'pragmatic' Sandinismo
to power, which no longer plans to confront the US but sign FTAs
with the US."

- "Bush's campaign failed and left a bad precedent"

Luis Bruchstein, columnist of left-of-center "Pagina 12," opines
(11/07) "... Bush's staff campaigned against Ortega. The US
Ambassador to Nicaragua called on the two right-wing political
parties to ask them to unite, sent Mario Vargas Llosa to give
lectures and North himself asked to vote for the right wing... His
presence created the threat of another war. It has been the Bush
administration's most shameless interference in the domestic issues
of a Latin American country.

"Regardless of what they say of Ortega, the Nicaraguans' democratic
vote defeated them all."

- "What stops the fence"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an op-ed story by columnist
Jorge Rosales, who writes (11/07) "The controversy regarding the
construction of a fence on the US-Mexican border aimed at stopping
immigration is only one aspect of the profound ongoing debate on
this issue...

"... When the most recalcitrant US sectors praise the construction
of a fence on the US-Mexican border..., they do not explain the
economic benefits immigrants leave in the country year after year.

"It is not by chance that this tough measure has been adopted at
election time, when extreme positions are required to maintain the
loyalty of the most conservative sector of voters now that President
Bush's clout is lower as difficulties in Iraq mount.

"The US ability to maintain its competitiveness largely depends on
the number of workers it incorporates to its economy...

"The debate about the fence in the US is then much broader than the
xenophobia of some US sectors. It should also include the
responsibilities of the leaders of our countries - who have not
contributed to generating the political, economic and social
conditions that could alleviate the poverty in which millions of
Latin Americans are immersed..."

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

WAYNE

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