Cablegate: Media Reaction: Montreal First International Conference For

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DE RUEHBU #0068/01 0262100
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O R 262031Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0362
INFO RHMCSUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000068

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STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA

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TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR PREL HA AR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: MONTREAL FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR
HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORTS; U.S. ROLE IN HAITI; 01/26/09; BUENOS AIRES

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; MONTREAL FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
FOR HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORTS; U.S. ROLE IN HAITI; 01/26/10; BUENOS
AIRES

SUMMARY

-------

1. Local newspapers report on the Montreal First International
Conference for Haitian Relief Efforts, highlighting that Canada and
humanitarian NGOs called wealthy countries to cancel Haitian debt.
Some papers picked up an Embassy press release on the U.S. Southern
Command's 50,000 dollar donation of medical supplies for the
Argentine Mobile Hospital. On the negative side, one columnist
accused President Obama of resuming U.S. interventionism in the
Caribbean, using humanitarian aid as an excuse. Another opinion
piece echoed ALBA (Bolivarian Partnership for the Americas)'s
claims that there is an excessive U.S. troop deployment. Two local
radio stations picked up very positive testimonies of Argentines in
the process of adopting Haitian children, who thanked the U.S.
Embassy for facilitating the issuance of emergency visas. End
summary.

MONTREAL CONFERENCE: SKEPTICISM ABOUT AID,

FOCUS ON DEBT CANCELLATION

------------------------------------------

2. Media reports on the Montreal First International Conference
for Haitian Relief Efforts were somewhat skeptical, claiming that
Haiti will need at least ten years to rebuild. Pro-U.S.,
conservative La Prensa notes that Secretary Clinton, who attended
the Montreal Conference, acknowledged the need to find better
coordination mechanisms in Haiti. La Prensa printed an AP story
doubting Haiti's real chances of reconstruction, citing the
country's lack of an efficient government, the fact that the
earthquake aborted its economic recovery, and that corruption could
deviate aid funds. La Prensa also reports that the Davos World
Economic Forum, which kicks off January 27, will also tackle how to
help Haiti.

3. Both La Prensa and business-financial Ambito Financiero note
that Canada and humanitarian NGOs called on wealthy countries to
cancel Haitian debts. Both papers highlight that Venezuelan Hugo
Chavez took the first step by cancelling Haiti's 300-million-dollar
debt for oil purchase.

SOUTHCOM DONATION FOR

ARGENTINE HOSPITAL PRAISED

--------------------------

4. Leading circulation Clarin, La Prensa and state-owned Telam
wire service agency all picked up an Embassy press release
highlighting Southcom's 50,000 dollar donation for the Argentine
Air Force's Mobile Hospital. (Note: Clarin ran a separate
editorial praising Argentina's humanitarian aid for Haitians not
only through the country's participation in Blue Helmets but also
through its sanitary assistance and official and non-governmental
support. End Note). Under the headline "Funds to Argentine
hospital," Clarin reported that Southcom's donation would help the
hospital provide care to thousands of victims. Clarin also quoted
Ambassador Martinez' remarks that "This modest donation in the
expert hands of the military medical staff is only another small
step in addressing the most urgent needs of the Haitian people."
State-owned news agency Telam also quoted Ambassador Martinez: "We
are proud to work with the Argentine government and the forces of
the UN Stabilization Mission to help the Haitian people during this

devastating crisis."

http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/01/26/opini on/o-02127192.htm

PRESIDENT OBAMA RESUMES U.S.

INTERVENTIONISM IN THE CARIBBEAN

--------------------------------

5. Pro-government, business-financial Buenos Aires Economico (BAE)
alleges that the U.S. troop deployment in Haiti is a return to an
"historic U.S. interventionism in the Caribbean," accusing
President Obama of using the humanitarian aid as an excuse. Under
the headline "An arm-wrestling between Obama and Lula," BAE blames
the U.S. for Haiti being a failed state.

6. The paper also accuses President Obama of ignoring Brazil's
leadership of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUTASH),
noting that the U.S. delegated the reconstruction of the country to
Southern Cone countries after the 1994 U.S. Pentagon-staged coup
d'etat against Jean Bertrand Aristide. The paper claims that Brazil
is not the only country that mistrusts the U.S., adding that French
Cooperation Minister Alan Joyandet submitted a formal complaint to
the U.S. stating, "We seek to help Haiti, not occupy it."

ALBA PROTESTS EXCESSIVE

U.S. TROOP DEPLOYMENT

-----------------------

7. Pro-government, left-of-center Pagina 12 protests the excessive
U.S. troop deployment, noting that ALBA (Bolivarian Partnership for
the Americas) voiced its "concern over the excessive presence of
foreign troops without any reason, purpose, venues or time of
permanence," in veiled reference to the U.S. troops. On the other
hand, the paper admits that Brazilian FM Celso Amorim denied that
the 20,000 U.S. troops created any kind of conflicts with MINUTASH.

http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/3- 139051-2010-01-26.html

ADOPTIONS IN HAITI

------------------

8. Some radio stations picked up testimonies of Argentines in the
process of adopting Haitian children. They stressed that the U.S.
Embassy in Haiti managed to let them receive the children and also
facilitated emergency visa procedures.

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our

classified website at:

http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires

MARTINEZ
MARTINEZ

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