Cablegate: Media Reaction; Reconciliation Between the Koreas;

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1974 2761436
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031436Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9408
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001974

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; RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE KOREAS;
ECUADORIAN POLITICAL REFORM; ARGENTINA'S TIES TO THE IMF AND ICSID;
10/03/07

1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Major international opinion pieces today include possible
reconciliation between the Koreas; anticipated political reform in
Ecuador; and ICSID rulings on Argentina.

2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS

- "A long road back home"

Hinde Pomeraniec, political columnist of leading "Clarn," writes
(10/03) "Hopeful people see yesterday's step taken by Korean leaders
as the beginning of the reconciliation of the country, which is
still at war. They imagine the possibility of a long-term agreement
reached for the first time outside of the protectionist pressures of
the US and China, similar to those from Japan and Russia in the
past.

"The nuclear issue will not be on the negotiating table this time
and it makes sense - deterrence talks continue and for the first
time since Bush took over, Washington has approved sending energy
supplies to Pyongyang in response to the disarmament implemented by
Kim Jong Il's regime.

"For South Koreans who want unity, the time is coming to go back
home, although in order to achieve this objective, they should put
up with the bitter step of renouncing claims on human rights abuses
at least for now."

- "Ecuador votes in favor of political reform"

Leading "Clarn" editorializes (10/03) "Ecuadorian President Rafael
Correa has paved the way for progress on promised reforms without
jeopardizing the country's political stability.

"After having won the second round of elections and obtained the
necessary support to call a constitutional amendment, Correa has
obtained another unquestionable victory...

"The fact that President Correa is not promoting indefinite
reelection (along the lines of Venezuelan Hugo Chvez) is
encouraging. Less promising is his objective of dissolving Congress,
which is dominated by the opposition.

"The main problems Ecuador must face are socio-economic (the fight
against poverty and inequality), and political (chronic instability
that has caused the downfall of three presidents during the last ten
years). Perhaps, Correa has found the key to the solution of both
challenges, but he will have to obtain steady consensus."

- "The ICSID, just as similar to and different from the IMF"

Lucio Di Mateo, contributor to business-financial "El Cronista,"
writes (10/03) "Argentina's relationship with the ICSID
(International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes) has two
similarities with the country's relationship with the IMF - one
circumstantial and the other structural, although both are
long-term. There is a major difference, however - the Argentine
Government may not get rid of the IMF as a result of the 2005 cash
payment of ten billion dollars.

"The circumstantial similarity... is that ICSID depends on Argentina
as much as the IMF used to. The current IMF adjustment proves it -
once the debts of Argentina, Brazil and Turkey were paid off, the
IMF was left without its main sources of income. ICSID figures also
mark its dependence on Argentina - one out of every 4 pending cases
are complaints filed by companies against the country...

"The structural similarity is that the ICSID and the IMF, as well as
the World Bank, are part of the 'Bretton Woods System'...

"The problem for Argentina is that they were designed by and for
powerful countries, whose interests they defend. This is why if
Argentina obtains a favorable ICSID decision, or a corporation
withdraws a complaint at the ICSID, those will only be exceptions to
an unfavorable ruling."

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

WAYNE

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